/ 







frontispiece 



Don Diego Ordonez impeacheth Zamora. 






The Chronicle of the Cid 






(Edited with an Introduction and 

x 

Appendix, by Richard Markharn, and 
Illustrated with upward of Fifty De- 
signs by H. TV, McVickar and Alfred 
Brennan) 



fJUL 27 1883,] 
New York 

Dodd, Mead & Company 

18 $3 









Copyright, 1883, 

BY 

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY. 







«B^0I2TGnC$*» 






CHAPTER I. 



Of Rodrigo of Bivar, and of how he slays Count Don Gomez and weds his daughter 
Ximena — He captures five Moorish Kings, and wins his title of "The Cid " 
— Of the siege of Coimbra, and of the knighting of Rodrigo by King 
Ferrando. ......".. 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Dou Sancho worsts his brother Don Garcia and acquires his kingdom — He then 
demands that his other brother Don Alfonso shall yield up to him his realm 
— Don Alfonso refuses, and two pitched battles follow, in the second of which 
he falls into his brother's hands — Don Sancho himself is captured in this battle 
by thirteen Knights, but my Cid single-handed rescues him — Don Sancho next 
besieges Zamora the city of his sister Dona Urraca, but is treacherously slain 
by Vellido Dolfos. ....... 40 



CHAPTER III. 

Don Diego Ordonez impeacheth Zamora — He slays the three sons of Don Arias 
Gonzalo, the champions of the city, in the lists — Don Alfonso returns and is 
crowned King — The Cid administers to him an oath that he had no part nor 
knowledge in his brother' s death. ..... 



66 



CHAPTER IV. 



King Alfonso, misled by the slanders of his enemies, banishes Ruydiez — There- 
upon my Cid, with three hundred retainers, departs into the country of the 
Moors — He captures Alcocer, and defeats a great army of Moors who come to 
besiege him — Of his share of the spoils he sends a present to King Alfonso. 



IV CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V. 



The Cid takes Valencia for himself — Valencia fell in the year 1094, thirteen years 
after the Cid had been banished by Alfonso — These thirteen years had been 
passed by the Cid in battles with the Moors and others, that culminated in 
the great achievement of his life, the capture of Valencia — At the time our 
chapter begins, the siege had been in progress for some time, and the be- 
leaguered Moors were looking for help to the Almoravides, a new horde of 
warlike fanatics who had swept over from Africa into Spain, to reinforce their 
Mohammedan brethren, and who were everywhere striking terror and gaining 
victories over the Christians. . . . . . . 112 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Cid takes measures to prevent his followers from leaving him — Don Hieronymo, 
that good one with the shaven crown, comes from the parts of the East and is 
made Bishop of Valencia — The Cid sends for his wife and daughters, who 
arrive in great state — King Yucef, of Morocco, comes against Valencia with 
fifty thousand Moors, but is routed with great slaughter. . . 138 

CHAPTER VII. 

The marriage of the Cid's daughters to the Counts of Carrion — The cowardice of 
the Counts — King Bucar comes from beyond sea with nine and twenty kings to 
avenge his brother Yucef, but his host is cut to pieces. . . 165 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Infantes of Carrion beat their wives, the daughters of my Cid, and leave them 
for dead in the Oak-wood of Corpes — Felez Munoz rescues them and bears 
word of the outrage to Valencia — The King summons his Cortes to try the 
Infantes. . ...... 191 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Cid takes his seat in the assembled Cortes upon his ivory chair and demands 
from the Infantes his swords Tizona and Colada and the dower which he gave 
with his daughters — The Alcaldes decide that the demand is just and the 
Infantes are forced to make restitution — The Cid then attaints them before the 
King as false traitors and cowards and challenges them to mortal combat — 
Pero Bermudez, Martin Antolinez, and Muno Gustioz are appointed to do 
battle with them on his behalf three weeks from that day — Messengers from the 
Kings of Navarre and Aragon come asking the daughters of the Cid in mar- 
riage for their sons. . . . . . . .212 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER X. 



The combat takes place at Carrion, and the Infantes and their uncle Suero Gonzalez 
are overcome — The King proclaims them notorious traitors and orders his 
seneschal to take their arms and horses — The second marriage of the Cid' s 
daughters. ........ 244 

CHAPTER XI. 

King Bucar the Miramamolin of Morocco comes a second time against Valencia — 
The Cid is admonished in a vision by St. Peter that his end is nigh, and pre- 
pares himself for death, giving directions to his followers as to how they shall 
conduct themselves when he is gone — My Cid wins his last battle with 
the Moors. ........ 258 

T CHAPTER XII. 

The Cid' s body is carried with all honour, upon his horse Bavieca, to the Monas- 
tery of San Pedro de Cardefia, where his funeral is celebrated with great pomp 
— His embalmed body sits for ten years in his ivory chair beside the high 
altar — My Cid does not forget his country after death. . . 279 




«»mTKODU(fcion»» 



Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, the Cid Campeador, renowned in 
song and story above any hero of Spain, was born somewhere 
about the year 1040. He may truly be called a hero of his- 
tory and legend, for so greatly has the fabulous been inter- 
woven with the record of his deeds that there have not been 
lacking those who held that no such person ever existed ex- 
cept in the brains of romancers. Of his actual existence, how- 
ever, there is no doubt. The bare outline of his life is some- 
what as follows. 

He was born of noble lineage, at Burgos, somewhere be- 
tween 1030 and 1040. No time in the history of Spain had 
given such opportunities for the exercise of personal bravery, 
and there had been no time when the exercise of personal 
bravery could bring such glorious results. The daring Cavalier 
could say with Ancient Pistol, that the world was an oyster 
which he might open with his sword. The great Ommiad dyn- 
asty, under whose firm grasp the Moors in Spain had been 
united and invincible, was at an end, and the Moorish power 
was broken up among a number of petty kings and caliphs, all 
greedy of power, and all fighting indiscriminately against one 
another or against the Christians to obtain it. The long occu- 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

pation of Spain by the Arab Moors had worn away the ha- 
tred of them as invaders. Christian knights took service under 
their banners, and fought for them against Christians as unhes- 
itatingly as against Moors. 

Into these days of anarchy Rodrigo Diaz was born. 
Among the free-lances that the age produced, he was easily 
foremost. 

King Fernando, his sovereign, died in 1065. By his will 
he divided his kingdom among his children : to Sancho, the 
eldest, he left Castile ; to Alfonso, Leon ; to Garcia, Galicia ; and 
to his two daughters, Urraca and Elvira, Zamora and Taro. 
The evils of the subdivision soon became apparent. Sancho, the 
eldest, asserting that he had been unjustly treated, declared war 
against his brothers. Rodrigo espoused his quarrel, and in the 
battles that followed, Sancho was victorious, and seized their 
kingdoms. He then proceeded to wrest the possessions of his 
sisters from them, but in the siege of Zamora, 1072, lost his 
life, being assassinated by a traitor, Vellido Dolfos. 

As he left no heir, Alfonso was sent for from among the 
Moors, where he had taken refuge, and was crowned King. 
Before the knights of his dead brother in the Church at Bur- 
gos he took a solemn oath that he had no knowledge or part 
in his brother's death, and they then swore fealty to him. 
Rodrigo was taken into his service, and honoured with high 
confidence. At this time he was married to Ximena, the daugh- 
ter of Count Oviedo, a relative of the King's. 

It can easily be believed, however, that Alfonso would 
naturally feel harshly to the man who had been, more than any 
other, the cause of his first losing his kingdom. The enemies 
of the Cid did their best to increase the feeling. Sent by 
his sovereign to collect tribute from the Moorish King of Se- 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

ville, he found that worthy in desperate conflict with the King 
of Granada. He joined his forces, and in a pitched battle won 
the day, and returned to Burgos with the tribute of Seville 
and laden with the spoils of Granada. His enemies ac- 
cused him of keeping back a part of the tribute, and the King 
banished him unheard. 

Then began his career as a free-lance. With three hun- 
dred followers, he left the kingdom of Alfonso, a banished man. 
He offered his services first to the Count of Barcelona. They 
were declined. He then made his way to the Moorish King 
of Saragossa, by whom he was eagerly welcomed. Eight years 
he fought for him or his successors, against Moor or Christian 
alike, winning great renown by his daring and success, and 
having, by virtue of his importance, almost royal authority. 
During this time he made numerous attempts at reconciliation 
with Alfonso, but without success. 

At length in 1094 he won his greatest victory, the capture 
of Valencia, known to this day as Valencia del Cid. It was 
the richest city of Spain, and there was not a King, Moor or 
Christian, who did not long to possess it. The Arab historians 
say that the Cid declared that none of his family had ever 
possessed a kingdom, and that from the moment when he first 
beheld Valencia he made up his mind to repair this omission 
on the part of fortune. At the head of seven thousand men, 
he marched against it.* Destroying the suburbs, he attempted 
to carry it by assault, but failed, and settled down to reduce 
it by famine. An army of Almoravides, a fresh inroad of 
Moors from Africa, marched to its relief, but unavailingly, and 
after nine months the city yielded. 

The terms of the capitulation were violated, and many of 
the citizens were slaughtered- In the main, however, the Cid 



.X INTRODUCTION. 

ruled his kingdom justly. Twice the Moors attempted to re- 
gain it, under Yusef and Abu Bekr, but were beaten off with 
great slaughter. At length at Cuenca they gained a great 
victory over his trusty lieutenant, his right hand, Alvar Fanez. 
The mortification of this defeat is supposed to have brought 
about his death, and Rodrigo yielded up his soul in 1099. 
His widow Ximena held Valencia three years longer. Then, 
seeing that she would soon be overpowered, she ordered its 
abandonment. Taking everything of value, and the body of 
their leader, they left Valencia in flames behind them. 

Hardly had Rodrigo been dead an hundred years before 
romance began to add all manner of legendary adventure to 
his history. He was no longer a freebooter, who fought 
against Moor and Christian equally. He had become the de- 
fender of the faith; "the Campeador," Champion ;" God's curse 
upon the Moor." He was " El mio Cid," from the Arabic Seid, 
lord ; " the one born in a fortunate hour," " the perfect one." 
In the two following centuries no adventure was too improb- 
able to be imputed to him. He crossed the Pyrenees and 
bearded the Kings of France in their own land. He travelled 
to Rome and made acquaintance with the Pope. He shared 
his bed with a leper, as an act of charity, and so received the 
blessing of St. Lazarus. The ballads that recounted his ex- 
ploits were sung by high and low. There are known to be 
in existence over two hundred of them. 

In 1808, Southey published his "Chronicle of the Cid." 
This is a translation made up from three originals — " Cronica 
del Famosa Cavallero Cid Ruy Diaz Campeador," " La Cronica 
de Espana," and the " Poema del Cid." 

This translation of Southey's is that from which the text 
of the present volume is taken. From its pages I have se- 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

lected large portions, giving the more interesting incidents in 
the Cid's history. I have now and then inserted descriptions 
of scenes from the metrical versions of Frere and Ormsby, and 
have added several of the ballads referring to the Campeador 
translated by Lockhart. In an appendix I have supplied also 
a few notes which seem to be necessary to an intelligent read- 
ing of the work. 

In no chronicle of the days of chivalry is there so stir- 
ring a story so thrillingly told as is this. Nowhere do we 
find more vividly drawn characters than Alvar Fafiez, Pero 
Bermudez, Pelaez the Asturian, and the rest. And nowhere 
does so picturesque a figure stand out as is that of the Cid. 
Whether he is charging at the head of his men, 

"Their lances in the rest, levelled fair and low, 
Their banners and their crests waving in a row, 
Their heads all stooping down toward the saddle bow," 

to the rescue of Pero Bermudez and his banner ; or whether 
he returns from the fray laughing, with his helmet unlaced 
showing his grizzled face ; or whether he sits gravely in the 
Cortes in his ivory chair stroking his long beard and fondling 
his "sweet trenchant swords," Tizona and Colada — he stands 
out from the page as if painted on the canvas in the hues 
of life. 

Whatever his vices, and they were many, for the age did 
not bring forward spotless heroes, greater by far must have 
been his virtues. Here is the verdict of an Arab historian, a 
contemporary and an enemy. 

"When the King of Saragossa saw himself threatened by 
the soldiers of the Emir el Moslemin he set at them a Gali- 
cian dog, one Roderic surnamed the Canbitur. - He was the 



Xll 



INTRODUCTION. 



scourge of the country. He fought many battles. His power 
grew very great, nor was there any district that he did not 
ravage. Nevertheless, this man, the scourge of his time, was 
one of the marvels of the Lord in his love of glory, the 
strength of his character, and his heroic courage. Victory al- 
ways followed his banner, God's curse be on him." 

R. M. 

March, 1883. 





Of Rodrigo of Bivar, and of how he slays 
Count Don Gomez and weds his daughter 
Ximena — He captures five Moorish Kings, 
and wins his title of " The Cid" — Of 
the siege of Coimbra, and of the knighting 
of Rodrigo by King Ferrando. 

King Don Ferrando succeeded to the 
states of Castile after the death of his 
father, King Don Sancho el Mayor, in 
the era 1072, which was the year of the Incarnation 1034, and 
from, the coming of the Patriarch Tubal to settle in Spain 
3197, and from the general deluge 3339, and from the creation 
of the world 4995, according to the computation of the Hebrews, 
and from the beginning of the false sect of the Moors 413. 
And in the year 1037 Ferrando slew Bermudo the King of 
Leon)in battle, who was his wife's brother, and conquered his 
kingdom, and succeeded to it in right of his wife Dona Sancha. 
So he was the first, person who united the states of Castile and 
Leon, and the first who was called- King of Castile; for till this 
time the lords of that country -had been called counts. He was 
a good king, and one who judged justly and feared God, and 



% 



14 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

was bold in all his doings. And he put his sons to read, that 
they might be of the better understanding, and he made them 
take arms, and be shown how to demean themselves in battle 
and to be huntsmen. And he ordered that his daughters 
should be brought up in the studies beseeming dames, so that 
they might be of good customs, and instructed in devotion and 
in all things which it behoved them to know. 

In those days arose Rodrigo of Bivar, who was a youth strong 
in arms and of good customs; and the people rejoiced in him, for 
he bestirred himself to protect the land from the Moors. Now 
it behoves that ye should know whence he came, and from what 
men he was descended, because we have to proceed with his 
history. In the year of the Incarnation 1026 was Rodrigo born 
of noble lineage, in the city of Burgos, and in the street of St. 
Martin, hard by the palace of the Counts of Castile. In the 
church of St. Martin was he baptized, a good priest of Burgos, 
whose name was Don Pedro de Pernegas, being his godfather; 
and to this church Rodrigo was always greatly affectionate, and 
he built the belfry tower thereof. 

At this time it came to pass that there was strife between 
Count Don Gomez the Lord of Gormaz, and Diego Laynez the 
father of Rodrigo ; and the Count insulted Diego and gave him 
a blow. Now Diego was a man in years, and his strength had 
passed from him, so that he could not take vengeance, and he 
retired to his home to dwell there in solitude and lament over 
his dishonour. And he took no pleasure in his food, neither could 
he sleep by night, nor would he lift up his eyes from the ground,. 
nor stir out of his house, nor commune with his friends, but 
turned from them in silence as if the breath of his shame would 
taint them. Rodrigo was yet but a youth, and the Count was a 
mighty man in arms, one who gave his voice first in the Cortes v 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



15 



and he was held to be the best in the war, and so powerful: 
that he had a thousand friends among the mountains. Howbeit 
all these things appeared as nothing to Rodrigo when he thought 
of the wrong done to his father. He asked nothing but justice 
of Heaven, and of man he asked only a fair field; and his father 




Don Gomez instills Diego. 

seeing of how good heart he was, gave him his sword and his 
blessing. And he went out and defied the Count and slew him, 
and smote off his head and carried it home to his father. The 
old man was sitting at table, the food lying before him untasted, 
when Rodrigo returned, and pointing to the head which hung 
from the horse's collar, dropping blood, he bade him look up,, 
for there was the herb which should restore to him his appetite. 
The tongue, quoth he, which insulted you, is no longer a tongue, 
and the hand which wronged you is no longer a hand. And the 



1 6 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

old man arose and embraced his son and placed him above him 
at the table, saying, that he who had brought home that head 
should be the head of the house. 

After this, Diego being full of years fell asleep and was 
gathered to his fathers. And the Moors entered Castile* in 
great power, for there came with them five Kings, and they 
plundered Carrion, and Vilforado, and Saint Domingo de la 
Calzada, and Logrono, and Najara, and all that land ; and they 
carried away many captives both male and female, and brood mares, 

* With fire and desolation the Moors are in Castile, 
Five Moorish kings together, and all their vassals leal ; 
They ve passed in front of Burgos, through the Oca- Hills they've run, 
They've plundered Belforado, San Domingo's harm is done. 

hi Najara and Lograno there's waste and disarray : — 
And now with Christian captives, a very heavy prey, 
With many men and women, and boys and girls beside, 
In joy and exultation to their own realms they ride. 

For neither king nor noble would dare their path to cross, 
Until the good Rodrigo heard of this skaith and loss ; 
In old Bivar the castle he heard the tidings told, 
{He was as yet a stripling, not twe>ity summers old). 

He mounted Bavieca, his friends he with him took, 

He raised the country round him, no more such scorn to brook ; 

He rode to the hills of Oca, where then the Moormen lay, 

He conquered all the Moormen, and took from them their prey. 

To every man had mounted he gave his part of gain, 
Dispersifig the much treasure the Saracen had ta'en ; 
The Kings were all the booty himself had from the war, 
Them led he to the castle, his stronghold of Bivar. 

He brought them to his mother, proud dame that day was she;— 
They owned him for their Signior, and then he set them free ; 
Home went they, much commending Rodrigo of Bivar, 
And sent him lordly tribute, from their Moorish realms afar. 




Rodrigo carries Home the Head of Don Gomez, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 9 

and flocks of all kinds. But as they were returning with all speed, 
Rodrigo of Bivar raised the country, and came up with them in 
the mountains of Oca, and fell upon them and discomfited them, 
and won back all their booty, and took all the five Kings prisoners. 
Then he went back to his mother, taking the Kings with him,, 
and there he divided the whole spoil with the hidalgos .and his 
other companions, both the Moorish captives and all the spoil of 
whatever kind, so that they departed right joyfully, being well 
pleased with what he had done. And he gave thanks to God 
for the grace which had been vouchsafed to him, and said to his 
mother that he did not think it good to keep the Kings in cap- 
tivity, but to let them go freely ; and he set them at liberty and 
bade them depart. So they returned each to his own country, 
blessing him for their deliverance, and magnifying his great bounty ; 
and forthwith they sent him tribute and acknowledged themselves 
to be his vassals. 

King Don Ferrando was going through Leon, putting the 
kingdom in order, when tidings reached him of the good speed 
which Rodrigo.had had against the Moors. And at the same time 
there came before him Ximena Gomez, the daughter of the Count * 

* Now, of Rodrigo de Bivar great was the fame that run, 

How he five Kings had vanquished, proud Moormen every one ; 
And how, when they consented to hold of him their ground, 
He freed them from the prison wherein they had been bound. 

To the good King Fernando, in Burgos where he lay, 
Came then Ximena Gomez, and thus to him did say : — 
' ' / am Don Gomez' daughter, in Gormaz Count was he ; 
Him slew Rodrigo of Bivar in battle valiantly. 

" Now am I come before you, this day a boon to crave, 
And it is that I to husband may this Rodrigo have ; 
Grant this, and I shall hold me a happy damosell. 
Much honoured shall I hold me, I shall be married well. 



20 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

who fell on her knees before him and said, Sir, I am the daughter 
of Count Don Gomez, of Gormaz, and Rodrigo of Bivar has 
slain the Count my father, and of three daughters whom he 
has left I am the youngest. And, Sir, I come to crave of you 
a boon, that you will give me Rodrigo of Bivar to be my hus- 
band, with whom I shall hold myself well married and greatly 

"/ know he s born for thriving, none like him in the land; 
I know that none in battle against his spear may stand ; 
Forgiveness is well pleasing in God our Saviour's view, 
And I forgive him freely, for that my sire he slew." — 

Right pleasing to Fernando was the thing she did propose ; 
He writes his letter swiftly, and forth his foot-page goes ; 
I wot, when young Rodrigo saw how the Ki?ig did write, 
He leapt on Bavieca — I wot his leap was light. 

With his own troop of true me7i forthwith he took the way, 
Three hundred friends and kinsmen, all gently bom were they ; 
All in one colour mantled, in armour gleaming gay, 
New were both scarf and scabbard, whejt they went forth that day. 

The Ki7ig came out to meet him, with words of hearty cheer ; 
Quoth he, " My good Rodrigo, you are right welcome here; 
This girl Ximena Gomes would have ye for her lord, 
Already for the slaughter her grace she doth accord. 

" I pray you be consenting, my gladness will be great ; 
You shall have lands in plenty, to strengthen your estate." — 
"Lord King," Rodrigo answers, " in this and all beside. 
Command, and Til obey you. The girl shall be my bride."— 

Bid when the fair Ximena came forth to plight her hand, 
Rodrigo, gazing on her, his face could not command : 
He stood and blushed before her ; — thus at the last said he — 
"/ slew thy sire, Ximena, but not in villainy : — 

" In no disguise I slew him, man against man 1 stood ; 

There was some wrong between us, and I did shed his blood. 

I slew a man, I owe a man ; fair lady, by God's grace, 

An honoured husband thou shalt have in thy dead father 's place." 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 2 1 

honoured ; for certain I am that his possessions will one day 
be greater than those of any man in your dominions. Certes, 
Sir, it behoves you to do this, because it is for God's ser- 
vice, and because I may pardon Rodrigo with a good will. 
The King held it good to accomplish her desire, and forthwith 
ordered letters to be drawn up to Rodrigo of Bivar, wherein he en- 
joined and commanded him that he should come incontinently to 
Palencia, for he had much to communicate to him, upon an affair 
which was greatly to God's service and his own welfare and great 
honour. 

When Rodrigo saw the letters of his lord the King he greatly 
rejoiced in them, and said to the messengers that he would fulfil 
the King's pleasure, and go incontinently at his command. And he 
dight himself full gallantly and well, and took with him many 
knights, both his own and of his kindred and of his friends, and he 
took also many new arms, and came to Palencia to the King with 
two hundred of his peers in arms, in festival guise; and the King 
went out to meet him, and received him right well, and did him 
honour; and at this were all the Counts displeased. And when the 
King thought it a fit season, he spake to him and said, that Dona 
Ximena Gomez, the daughter of the Count whom he had slain, 
had come to ask him for her husband, and would forgive him her 
father's death ; wherefore he besought him to think it good to take 
her to be his wife, in which case he would show him great favour. 
When Rodrigo heard this it pleased him well, and he said to the 
King that he would do his bidding in this, and in all other things 
which he might command ; and the King thanked him much* 

* Within his hall of Burgos the King prepares the feast ; 
He makes his preparation for many a noble guest, 
It is a joyful city, it is a gallant day, 
'Tis the Campeador's wedding, and who will bide away? 



22 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

And he sent for the Bishop of Palencia, and took their vows and 
made them plight themselves each to the other according as the 

Layn Calvo, the Lord Bishop, he first comes forth the gate, 
Behind him comes Buy Diaz, in all his bridal state ; 
The crowd makes way before them as up the street they go ; — 
For the multitude of people their steps must needs be slow. 

The King had taken order that they should rear an arch. 
From house to house all over, in the way where they must march ; 
They have hung it all with lances, and shields, and glittering helms. 
Brought by the Campeador from out the Moorish realms. 

They have scattered olive branches and rushes on the street. 
And the ladies fling down garlands at the Campeador' s feet ; 
With tapestry and broidery their balconies between. 
To do his bridal honour, their walls the burghers screen. 

They lead the bulls before them all covered o'er with trappi7igs ; 
The little boys pursue them with hootings and with clappings ; 
The fool, with cap and bladder, upon his ass goes prancing, 
Amidst troops of captive maidens with bells and cymbals dancing. 

With antics and with fooleries, with shouting and with laughter, 
They fill the streets of Burgos— and The Devil he comes after ; 
For the King has hired the homed fiend for sixteen maravedis. 
And there he goes, with hoofs for toes, to terrify the ladies. 

Then comes the bride Ximena — the King he holds her hand ; 
And the Queen, and, all in fur and pall, th'e nobles of the land; 
All down the street the ears of wheat are round Ximena flying. 
But the King lifts off her bosom sweet whatever there is lying. 

Quoth Suero, when he saw it {his thought you understand), 

" ' Tis a fijie thing to be a King; but Heaven make me -a hand/" 

The King was very merry, when he was told of this. 

And swore the bride ere eventide, must give the boy a kiss. 

The King went always talking, but she held down her head 
And seldom gave an answer to anything he said ; 
It was better to be silent, among such a crowd of folk. 
Than utter words so meaningless as she did when she spoke. 




Marriage of Rodrigo and Ximcna. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 25 

law directs. And when they were espoused the King did them 
great honour, and gave them many noble gifts, and added to Rod- 
rigo's lands more than he had till then possessed ; and he loved him 
greatly in his heart, because he saw that he was obedient to his 
commands, and for all that he had heard him say. 

So Rodrigo departed from the King, and took his spouse with 
him to the house of his mother, and gave her to his mother's 
keeping. And forthwith he made a vow in her hands that he 
would never accompany with her, neither in the desert nor in 
the inhabited place, till he had won five battles in the field. And 
he besought his mother that she would love her even as she loved 
himself, and that she would do good to her and show her great 
honour, for which he should ever serve her with the better good 
will. And his mother promised him so to do ; and then he 
departed from them and went out against the frontier of the 
Moors. 

Now the history relates that King Don Ferrando contended 
with King Don Ramiro of Arragon for the city of Calahorra, 
which each claimed as his own ; in such guise that the King of 
Arragon placed it upon the trial by combat, confiding in the 
prowess of Don Martin Gonzalez, who was at that time held 
to be the best knight in all Spain. King Don Ferrando accepted 
the challenge, and said that Rodrigo of Bivar should do battle 
on his part, but that he was not then present. And they plighted 
homage on both parts to meet and bring each his knight, and 
the knight who conquered should win Calahorra for his lord. 
Having ratified this engagement, they returned into their own 
lands. And immediately Ferrando sent for Rodrigo of Bivar, 
and told him all the matter as it then stood, and that he was 
to do battle. Well pleased was Rodrigo when he heard this, 
and he accorded to all that the King had said that he, should 



-26 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

do battle for him upon that cause ; but till the day arrived he 
must needs, he said, go to Compostella, because he had vowed 
a pilgrimage ; and the King was content therewith, and gave 
him great gifts. 

Rodrigo forthwith set out upon the road, and took with 
him twenty knights. 

Now the day came which had been appointed for the combat, 
and Rodrigo was not arrived ; therefore his cousin Alvar Fafiez 
Minaya undertook the battle in his stead, and ordered his horse to 
be harnessed right well. While he was arming himself Rodrigo 
came up and took the horse of Alvar Fafiez, and entered the lists ; 
Don Martin Gonzalez did the same, and the judges placed them 
fairly, each in his place, so that neither should have the sun in his 
eyes. They ran their career, one against the other, and met so 
fiercely that their lances brake and both were sorely wounded ; 
but Don Martin began to address Rodrigo, thinking to dismay 
him. Greatly dost thou now repent, Don Rodrigo, said he, that 
thou hast entered into these lists with me ; for I shall so handle 
thee that never shalt thou marry Dona Ximena thy spouse, 
whom thou lovest so well, nor ever return alive to Castile. 
Rodrigo waxed angry at these words, and he replied, You are a 
good knight, Don Martin Gonzalez, but these words are not suitable 
to this place, for in this business we have to contend with hands 
and not with empty speeches ; and the power is in God who will 
give the honour as he thinketh best. And in his anger he made 
at him, and smote him upon his helmet, and the sword cut 
through and wounded as much of the head as it could reach, 
so that he was sorely hurt and lost much blood. And Don 
Martin Gonzalez struck at Rodrigo, and the sword cut into the 
shield, and he plucked it toward him that with main force he 
made Rodrigo lose the shield ; but Rodrigo did not forget him- 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 27 

self, and wounded him again in the face. And they both 
became greatly enraged, and cruel against each other, striking 
without mercy, for both of them were men who knew how to 
demean themselves. But while they thus struggled, Don Martin 
Gonzalez lost much blood, and for very weakness he could not 
hold himself upon his horse, but fell from his horse upon the 
.ground ; and Rodrigo alighted and went to him and slew him ; 
and when he had slain him he asked the judges if there was 
anything more to be done for the right of Calahorra ; and they 
made answer that . there was not. Then came the King Don 
Ferrando to him, and alighted by him, and helped to disarm 
him and embraced him much , and when he was disarmed he 
Avent with him from the field, he and all the Castilians greatly 
rejoicing; but as great as was the pleasure of King Don Ferrando 
and his people, so great was the sorrow of King Don Ramiro of 
Arragon and of his. And he ordered them to take up Don 
Martin Gonzalez, and they carried the body into his own lands, 
•and he went with it, and Calahorra remained in the power of 
King Don Ferrando. 

The history relateth that at this time while the King was 
in Galicia, the Moors entered Estremadura, and the people called 
upon Rodrigo of Bivar to help them. And when he heard the 
summons he made no delay, but gathered together his kinsmen 
and his friends, and went against the misbelievers. And he 
came up with them between Atienza and San Estevan de 
Gormaz, as they were carrying away a great booty in captives 
and in flocks, and there he had a brave battle with them in 
the field ; and in fine Rodrigo conquered, smiting and slaying, 
and the pursuit lasted for seven leagues, and he recovered all the 
spoil, which was so great that two hundred horses were the 
fifth, for the whole spoil was worth a hundred times a thousand 



25 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

maravedis. Rodrigo divided the whole among his people with- 
out covetousness, and returned with great honour 

All this while was Coimbra in the power of the misbe- 
lievers. And the Abbot of Lorvam took counsel with his monks, 
and they said, Let us go to King Ferrando and tell him the 
state of the city. And they chose out two of the brethren for 
this errand. When the Moors therefore who came to hunt 
among the mountains took up their lodging in the Monastery 
as they were wont to do, these twain said unto them, We 
would go to the holy Dominicum, to say prayers there for 
our sins* So feigning this to be their errand they set forth, 
and came to the King in the town of Carrion, and spake unto 
him in council, saying, Sir King, we come to you through 
waters and over mountains and by bad ways, to tell you con- 
cerning Coimbra in what plight it is, if you desire to know, 
and in what guise the Moors dwell therein, what they are and 
how many, and with how little heed they keep the city. And 
he said unto them, I beseech you, for the love of God, say 
on. Then told they him what they knew ; and the King took 
counsel upon this matter with Rodrigo of Bivar, and Rodrigo 
said, that certes the Lord would help him to win the city ; and 
he said that he would fain be knighted by the King's hand, 
and that it seemed to him now that he should receive knight- 
hood at his hand in Coimbra. A covenant was then made with 
the two monks that they should go with the army against the 
city in the month of January without fail. Now this was in 
October. Incontinently the King sent to summon his Knights 
and people, and when one part of them had assembled at Santa 
Maria, he bade them do all the damage they could against Coim- 
bra, and ravage the country, which accordingly they did. In 

* See Appendix, Note A 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 29 

the mean time the King made* a pilgrimage to Santiago, as Rod- 
rigo had exhorted him to do ; and he remained there three 
days and nights in prayer, offering great gifts, and taking upon 
himself great devotion, that it might please God to fulfil his 
desire. And with the help of Santiago he gathered together a 
great host, and went up against Coimbra in the month of 
January, even as he had covenanted, and laid siege to it. And 
he fought against the city all February, and March, and April, 
May and June, five months did he fight, and could not pre- 
vail against it. And when July came the food of the besiegers 
failed them, insomuch that they had only the dole for a few 
days left : then the baggage was made ready, and the sumpter- 
beasts and serving-men were ordered to depart for Leon, and 
proclamation was made in the camp that the army should re- 
main yet four days, and on the fifth they might break up 
and depart every one to his own house. But then the Monks 
of Lorvam and the Abbot consulted together and said, Let us 
now go to the King and give him all the food which we 
have, both oxen and cows, and sheep and goats and swine, 
wheat and barley and maize, bread and wine, fish and fowl, 
even all that we have ; for if the city, which God forbid, should 
not be won by the Christians, we. may no longer abide here. 
Then went thev to the King' and gave him all their stores, 
both of flocks and herds, and pulse, and wine beyond measure 
which they had for a long time stored. Then was there abun- 
dance in the camp ; but they who were within the city waxed 
feeble for hunger and long suffering, because the Christians be- 
set them on all sides, and warred upon them hotly, and brought 
their engines to bear on every part, and the walls of the city 
were broken down. When the Moors saw this they came to 
the King, and fell at his feet, and_besought him of his, mercy 



3<D THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

that he would let them depart, leaving to him the city and 
all that they had therein, for they asked for nothing but their 
lives. And the King had compassion upon them and granted 
their prayer ; and the city was yielded to him on a Sunday 
at the hour of tierce* which was before a week had run out 
since the Monks of Lorvam had succoured the host. 

Now it came to pass that while the King lay before Coim- 
bra, there came a pilgrim from the land of Greece on pilgrim- 
age to Santiago ; his name was Estiano, and he was a Bishop. 
And as he was praying in the church he heard certain of the 
townsmen and of the pilgrims saying that Santiago was wont 
to appear in battle like a knight, in aid of the Christians. 
And when he heard this it nothing pleased him, and he said 
unto them, Friends, call him not a knight, but rather a fisher- 
man. Upon this it pleased God that he should fall asleep,, 
and in his sleep Santiago appeared to him with a good and 
cheerful countenance, holding in his hand a bunch of keys,, 
and said unto him, Thou thinkest it a fable that they should 
call me a knight, and sayest that I am not so : for this reason 
am I come unto thee that thou never more mayest doubt 
concerning my knighthood ; for a knight of Jesus Christ I am,, 
and a helper of the Christians against the Moors. While he 
was thus saying, a horse was brought him the which was ex- 
ceeding white, and the Apostle Santiago mounted upon it, 
being well clad in bright and fair armour, after the manner of 
a knight. And he said to Estiano, I go to help King Don 
Ferrando who has lain these seven months before Coimbra, and 
to-morrow with these keys which thou seest, will I open the 
gates of the city unto him at the hour of tierce, and deliver 
it into his hand. Having said this he departed. And the 

* See Appendix, Note B. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 3L 

Bishop when he awoke in the morning called together the clergy 
and people of Compostella, and told them what he had seen 
and heard. And as he said, even so did it come to pass; for 
tidings came that on that day and at the hour of tierce, the 
gates of the city had been opened. 

King Don Ferrando then assembled his Counts and chief 
captains, and told them all that the Monks of Lorvam had 
done, in bringing him to besiege the city, and in supplying 
his army in their time of need : and the Counts and chief 
captains made answer and said, Certes, O King, if the Monks 
had not given us the stores of their Monastery, thou couldest 
not have taken the citv at this time. The King: then called 
for the Abbot and the brethren, for they were with him in the 
host, and said the hours to him daily, and mass in St. Andre's,, 
and buried there and in their Monastery as many as had died 
during the siege, either of arrow-wounds or by lances, or of their 
own infirmities. So they came before him and gave him joy of 
his conquest ; and he said unto them, Take ye now of this 
city as much as ve desire, since by God's favour and your counsel 
I have won it. But they made answer, Thanks be to God and 
to you, and to your forefathers, we have enough and shall have, 
if so be that we have your favour and dwell among Christians. 
Only for the love of God, and for the remedy of your own 
soul, give us one church with its dwelling houses within the city,, 
and confirm unto us the gifts made to us in old times by your 
forefathers, and the good men to whom God give a happy rest. 
With that the King turned to his sons and his soldiers, and 
said, Of a truth, by our Creator, these who desire so little 
are men of God. I would have given them half the city, and 
they will have only a single church ! Now therefore, since they 
require but this, on the part of God- Almighty, let us grant and 



32 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

confirm unto them what they ask, to the honour of God and 
St. Mamede.* And the brethren brought him their charters of 
King Ramiro, and King Bermudo, and King Alfonso, and of 
Gonzalo Moniz, who was a knight and married a daughter of 
King Bermudo, and of other good men. And the King confirmed 
them, and he bade them make a writing of all which had passed 
between him and them at the siege of Coimbra; and when they 
brought him the writing, they brought him also a crown of 
silver and of gold, which had been King Bermudo's, and which 
Gonzalo Moniz had given to the Monastery in honour of God 
and St. Mamede. The King saw the crown, how it was set with 
precious stones, and said to them, To what end bring ye hither 
this crown ? And they said, That you should take it, Sire, 
in return for the good which you have done us. . But he an- 
swered, Far be it from me that I should take from your Mon- 
astery what the good men before me have given to it ! Take 
ye back the crown, and take also ten marks of silver, and make 
with the money a good cross, to remain with you forever. And 
he who shall befriend you, may God befriend him ; but he who 
shall disturb you or your Monastery, may he be cursed by the liv- 
ing God and by his Saints. So the King signed the writing which 
he had commanded to be made, and his sons and chief captains 
signed it also, and in the writing he enjoined his children and 
his children's children, as many as should come after him, to 
honour and protect the Monastery of Lorvam, upon his bless- 
ing he charged them so to do, because he had found the breth- 
ren better than all the other Monks in his dominions. 

Then King Don Ferrando knighted Rodrigo of Bivar in the 
great mosque of Coimbra, which he dedicated to St. Mary. 
And the ceremony f was after this manner : the King girded 

* See Appendix, Note C. f See Appendix, Note D. 




Z^JGgP^X 



Rodrigo is made Knight. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 35 

on his sword, and gave him the kiss, but not the blow. 
To do him more honour the Queen gave him his horse, and 
the Infanta Dona TJrraca fastened on his spurs; and from 
that day forth he was called Ruydiez. Then the King com- 
manded him to knight nine noble squires with his own hand; 
and he took his sword before the altar, and knighted them. 
And the King departed and went to Compostella to return 
thanks to Santiago. 

But then Benalfagi, who was the Lord of many lands in 
Estremadura, gathered together a great power of the Moors and 
built up the walls of Montemor, and from thence waged war 
against Coimbra, so that they of Coimbra called upon the King 
for help. And the King came up against the town, and fought 
against it, and took it. Great honour did Ruydiez win at that 
siege ; for having to protect the foragers, the enemy came out 
upon him, and thrice in one day was he beset by them ; but 
he, though sorely prest by them, and in great peril, nevertheless, 
would not send to the camp for succour, but put forth his 
manhood and defeated them. And from that day the King gave 
more power into his hands, and made him head over all his 
household. 

Now the men of Leon besought the King that he would 
repeople Zamora, which had lain desolate since it was destroyed 
by Almanzor. And he went thither and peopled the city, and 
gave to it good privileges. And while he was there came mes- 
sengers from the five Kings who were vassals to Ruydiez of 
Bivar, bringing him their tribute; and they came to him, he 
being with the King, and called him Cid, which signifieth 
Lord, and would have kissed his hands, but he would not give 
them his hand till they kissed the hand of the King. And 
Ruydiez took the tribute and offered the fifth thereof %o the 



2,6 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

King, in token of his sovereignty ; and the King thanked him, 
but would not receive it, and from that time he ordered that 
Ruydiez should be called the Cid, because the Moors had so 
called him. 

Many other things did King Don Ferrando, which are 
written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Spain, 
enriching churches and monasteries, and honouring the saints and 
martyrs and making war upon the misbelievers. And it came 
to pass when he was waxed old, that as he was one day saying 
his prayers, the confessor St. Isidro appeared unto him, and 
told him the day and hour when he should die, to the intent 
that he might make ready and confess his sins, and make atonement 
for them, and take thought for his soul, so that he might appear 
clean from offence before the face of God. From that day 
he, being certain that his end was at hand, began to discharge 
his soul. And he devised within himself how to dispose of the 
kingdoms which God had given him, that there might be no 
contention between his sons after his death ; and he thought it 
best to divide his lands among them; but this which he thought 
best proved to be the worst, and great evil came thereof, for 
better had it been that hi had left all to the eldest. Howbeit 
it was his pleasure to divide them : he had three sons, Don Sancho 
who was the eldest, and Don Alfonso who was the second born, 
and Don Garcia who was the youngest ; and two daughters, Dona 
Urraca and Dona Elvira. The manner in which he divided his 
lands was this: he gave to Don Sancho the kingdom of Castile 
as far as to the river Pisuerga, on the side of Leon, with the 
border, which included the dioceses of Osma, and Segovia, and 
Avila, and on the side of Navarre as far as the Ebro, as he had 
won it from his nephew Don Sancho Garcia, King of Navarre. 
To Don Alfonso he gave the kingdom of Leon, and in Austurias 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 37 

as far as the river Deva, which runs by Oviedo, and part of Cam- 
pos as far as Carrion and the river Pisuerga, with the border, which 
contained the dioceses of Zamora, Salamanca, and Ciudad Rodrigo, 
and the city of Astorga, and other lands in Galicia, with the 
town of Zebreros. To Don Garcia he gave the kingdom of 
Galicia, and all the lands which he had won in Portugal, with 
the title of King of Galicia, which country had had no King 
of its own since the kingdom of the Suevi had been overthrown 
by King Leovegildo. And to Dona Urraca he gave the city 
of Zamora with all its dependencies, and with half the Infan- 
tazgo ; and the other half, with the city of Toro and its depen- 
dencies, to Dona Elvira. 

When the Infante Don Sancho knew that the King his 
father had made his allotment it displeased him, for he was 
the eldest son ; and he said to his father that he neither could 
nor ought to make this division ; for the Gothic Kings had 
in old time made a constitution for themselves, that the king- 
dom and empire of Spain never should be divided, but remain 
one dominion under one Lord. But the King replied that 
he would not for this forbear to do as he had resolved, for he 
had won the kingdom: then the Infante made answer, Do 
as you will, being my father and Lord: but I do not consent 
unto it. So the King made this division against the right of 
the Infante Don Sancho, and it displeased many in the king- 
dom, and many it pleased ; but they who were of good under- 
standing perceived the evil which would arise. 

After this the King fell sick with the malady whereof 
he died. And he made himself be carried to Leon, and there 
on his knees before the bodies of the saints he besought mercy 
of them. And putting his crown upon his head before the 
holy body of St. Isidro he called upon God, saying, O Lord 



38 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Jesus Christ, thine is the power over all, and thine is the king- 
dom, for thou art King of all kingdoms, and of all Kings, and 
of all nations, and all are at thy command. And now Lord I 
return unto thee the kingdom which thou hast given me, but 
I beseech thee of thy mercy that my soul may be brought to 
the light which hath no end. Having said thus, he stript him- 
self of the royal robes adorned with gold in which he was ar- 
rayed, and took the crown from his head and placed it upon 
the altar; and he put sackcloth upon the carrion of his body, 
and prayed to God, confessing all the sins which he had com- 
mitted against him, and took his acquittal from the Bishops, 
for they absolved him from his sins; and forthwith he there 
received extreme unction, and strewed ashes upon himself. 
After this, by his own order he was carried to §t. Mary of 
Almazan in pilgrimage, and there he remained thrice nine days, 
beseeching St. Mary that she would have mercy upon him and 
intercede with her blessed Son for his soul. From thence they 
carried him to Cabezon, and there the Abbot Don Ferrando 
came to him, an honourable man, and many other honourable men 
of his realms, and the Cid Ruydiez, whom the King com- 
mended to the Infante Don Sancho, his son. And after he 
had put all his affairs in order he remained three days lament- 
ing in pain, and on the fourth, being the day of St. John 
the Evangelist, he called for the Cardinal abbot, and com- 
mended Spain and his other sons to him, and gave him 
his blessing, and then at the hour of sexts he rendered up 
his soul without stain to God, being full of years. So they 
carried him to Leon and buried him near his father, in the 
Church of St. Isidro, which he had built. Thirty and one 
years did King Don Ferrando the Great reign over Castile. 
The Queen his wife lived two years after him, leading a holy 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



39 



life; a good Queen had she been and of good understanding, 
and right loving to her husband: alvvay had she counselled 
him well, being in truth the mirror of his kingdoms, and 
the friend of the widows and orphans. Her end was a good 
end, like that of the King her husband: God give them 
Paradise for their reward. Amen. • 





Don Sancho worsts his brother Don Garcia 
and acquires his kingdom — He then demands 
that his other brother Don Alfonso shall 
yield up to him his realm — Don Alfonso 
refuses, and two pitched battles follow, in the 
second of which he falls into his brother s 
hands — Don Sancho himself is captured in this 
battle by thirteen Knights, but ??iy Cid single- 
rescues him — Don Sancho next besieges Zamora the city of his 
sister Doiia U?-raca, but is treacherously slain by Vellido Dolfos. 

[The evils of the division of the kingdom were soon apparent. Don Garcia almost im- 
mediately took by force from his sister Dofia Urraca a great part of the land which her 
father had left her. Don Sancho at once made this a pretence to declare war against Don 
Garcia, and sent an army into her kingdom. This was defeated in a pitched battle, where- 
upon Don Sancho took the field in person.] 

King Don Sancho came against his brother to besiege him 
in Santarem. And the Portuguese and Galegos took counsel 
together what they should do ; for some were of advice that it 
was better to defend the cities and fortresses which they held, 
and so lengthen out the war ; others that they should harass 
the army of the Castilians with frequent skirmishes and assaults, 
and never give them battle power to power, thinking that in 
this manner they might baffle thern till the winter came on. 
Don Rodrigo Frojaz said unto the King that it behoved him 
above all things to put his kingdom upon the hazard of a 
battle; for his brother being a greater lord of lands than he, 
and richer in money and more powerful in vassals, could main- 
tain the war longer than he could do, who peradventure would 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 41 

find it difficult another year to gather together so good an army 
as he had now ready. For this cause he advised him to put 
his trust in God first, and then in the hidalgos who were with 
him, and without fear give battle to the King his brother, over 
whom God and his good cause would give him glorious victory. 
And to show his own good will to the King, he besought of 
him the leading of the van for himself and the Counts Don 
Pedro and Don Vermui Frojaz his brethren, and his two 
nephews. Greatly was the King Don Garcia encouraged by 
his gallant cheer, and he bade his host make ready to give 
battle to King Don Sancho, as soon as he should arrive ; and 
he marched out from the city, and took his stand near unto it 
in a field where afterward were the vineyards of the town. And 
when the banners of the Castilians were seen advancing, the 
Galegos and Portuguese drew up in battle array, Don Rodrigo 
and his brethren having the van, as he had requested, and a 
body of chosen knights with them. 

Count Don Garcia came in the front of King Don Sancho's 
army, and in the one wing was the Count de Monzon and Count 
Don NuSo de Lara; and the Count Don Fruela of Asturias in 
the other; and the King was in the rear, with Don Diego de 
Osma, who carried his banner : and in this manner were they 
arrayed on the one side and on the other, being ready for the 
onset. And King Don Garcia bravely encouraged his men, 
saying, Vassals and friends, ye see the great wrong which the 
King my brother doth unto me, taking from me my king- 
dom ; I beseech ye help me now to defend it ; for ye well 
know that all which I have therein I divided among ye, keeping 
ye for a season like this. And they answered, Great benefits 
have we received at your hands, and we will serve you to 
the utmost of our power. Now when the two hosts were 



42 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

ready to join battle, Alvar Fanez came to King Don Sancho 
and said to him, Sir, I have played away my horse and 
arms ; I beseech you, give me others for this battle, and I 
will be a right good one for you this day ; if I do not for 
you the service of six knights, hold me for a traitor. And 
the Count Don Garcia, who heard this, said to the King, 
Give him, Sir, what he asketh; and the King ordered that 
horse and arms should be given him. So the armies joined 
battle bravely on both sides, and it was a sharp onset ; many 
were the heavy blows which were given on both sides, and 
many were the horses that were slain at that encounter, and 
many the men. Now my Cid had not yet come up into 
the field. 

Now Don Rodrigo Frojaz and his brethren and the knights 
who were with them had resolved to make' straight for the 
banner of the King of Castile. And they broke through the 
ranks of the Castilians, and made their way into the middle 
of the enemy's host, doing marvellous feats of arms. Then was 
the fight at the hottest, for they did their best to win the 
banner, and the others to defend it ; the remembrance of what 
they had formerly done, and the hope of gaining more honours 
heartened them ; and with the Castilians there was their King, 
giving them brave example as well as brave words. The press 
of the battle was here ; here died Gonzalo de Sies, a right valiant 
Portuguese, on the part of Don Garcia ; but on Don Sancho's 
part the Count Don Nuno was sorely wounded and thrown 
from his horse; and Count Don Garcia Ordonez was made pris- 
oner, and the banner of King Don Sancho was beaten down, 
and the King himself also. The first who encountered him was 
Don Gomes Echiguis, he was the first who set his lance against 
King Don Sancho, and the other one was Don Moninho 




Don Rodrigo Frojaz \neld$ his Soul. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 45 

Hermigis, and Don Rodrigo made way through the press and 
laid hands on him and took him. But in the struggle his old 
wounds burst open, and having received many new ones he 
lost much blood, and perceiving that his strength was failing, 
he sent to call the King Don Garcia with all speed. And as 
the King came, the Count Don Pedro Frojaz met him and said, 
An honourable gift, Sir, hath my brother Don Rodrigo to give 
you, but you lose him in gaining it. And tears fell from the 
eyes of the King, and he made answer and said, It may indeed 
be that Don Rodrigo may lose his life in serving me, but the 
good name which he hath gained, and the honour which he 
leaveth to his descendants, death cannot take away. Saying 
this, he came to the place where Don Rodrigo was, and Don 
Rodrigo gave into his hands the King Don Sancho his brother, 
and asked him three times if he was discharged of his prisoner; 
and when the King had answered Yes, Don Rodrigo said, For 
me, Sir, the joy which I have in your victory is enough ; give 
the rewards to these good Portuguese, who with so good a will 
have put their lives upon the hazard to serve you, and in 
ali things follow their counsel, and you will not err therein. 
Having said this he kissed the King's hand, and lying upon 
his shield, for he felt his breath fail him, with his helmet 
for a pillow, he kissed the cross of his sword in remem- 
brance of that on which the incarnate Son of God had died 
for him, and rendered up his soul into the hands of his 
Creator. This was the death of one of the worthy knights 
of the world, Don Rodrigo Frojaz. In all the conquests 
which King Don Ferrando had made from the Moors of 
Portugal, great part had he borne, insomuch that that King 
was wont to say that other Princes might have more domin- 
ions than he, but two such knights as his two Rodrigos, mean- 



46 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

ing my Cid and this good knight, there was none but himself 
who had for vassals. 

Then King Don Garcia being desirous to be in the pursuit 
himself, delivered his brother into the hands of six knights that 
they should guard him, which he ought not to have done. 
And when he was gone King Don Sancho said unto the knights, 
Let me go and I will depart out of your country and never 
enter it again ; and I will reward ye well as long as ye live. 
But they answered him, that for no reward would they commit 
such disloyalty, but would guard him well, not offering him any 
injury, till they had delivered him to his brother the King Don 
Garcia. While they were parleying Alvar Fafiez Minaya came 
up, he to whom the King had given horse and arms before the 
battle ; and he seeing the King held prisoner cried out with a 
loud voice, Let loose my lord the King : and he spurred his 
horse and made at them ; and before his lance was broken he 
overthrew two of them, and so bestirred himself that he put 
the others to flight ; and he took the horses of those whom 
he had smote down, and gave one to the King, and mounted 
on the other himself, for his own was hurt in the rescue ; and 
they went together to a little rising ground where there was 
yet a small body of the knights of their party, and Alvar Fafiez 
cried out to them aloud, Ye see here the King our Lord, who 
is free; now then remember the good name of the Castilians, 
and let us not lose it this day. And about four hundred knights 
gathered about him. And while they stood there they saw the 
Cid Ruydiez coming up with three hundred knights, for he 
had not been in the battle, and they knew his green pennon, 
and when King Don Sancho beheld it his heart rejoiced, and 
he said, Now let us descend into the plain, for he of good 
fortune cometh ; and he said, Be of good heart, for it is the 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 47 

will of God that I should recover my kingdom, for I have 
escaped from captivity, and seen the death of Don Rodrigo 
Frojaz who took me, and Ruydiez the fortunate one cometh. 
And the King went down to him, and welcomed him right 
joyfully, saying, In happy time you are come, my fortunate 
Cid ; never vassal succoured his Lord in such season as you now 
succour me, for the King my brother had overcome me. And 
the Cid answered, Sir, be sure that you shall recover the day, 
or I shall die ; for wheresoever you go, either you shall be 
victorious or I will meet my death. 

By this time King Don Garcia returned from the pursuit, 
singing as he came full joyfully, for he thought that the King 
his brother was a prisoner, and his great power overthrown. 
But there came one and told him that Don Sancho was rescued 
and in the field again, ready to give him battle a second time. 
Bravely was that second battle fought on both sides ; and if it 
had not been for the great prowess of the Cid, the end would 
not have been as it was ; in the end the Galegos and Portu- 
guese were discomfited, and the King Don Garcia taken in his 
turn. And in that battle the two brethren of Don Rodrigo 
Frojaz, Don Pedro and Don Vermui, were slain, and the two 
sons of Don Pedro, so that five of that family died that day. 
And the King Don Sancho put his brother in better ward than 
his brother three hours before had put him, for he put him in 
chains and sent him to the strong castle of Luna. 

When King Don Sancho had done this he took unto him- 
self the kingdom of Galicia and of Portugal, and without delay 
sent to his brother King Don Alfonso, commanding him to 
yield up to him the kingdom of Leon, for it was his by 
right. At this was the King . of Leon troubled at heart ; 
howbeit he answered that he would not yield up his. king- 



48 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



dom, but do his utmost to defend it. Then King Don 
Sancho entered Leon, slaying and laying waste before him, as 
an army of infidels would have done ; and King Don Alfonso 
sent to him to bid him cease from this, for it was inhuman 
work to kill and plunder the innocent : and he defied him 
to a pitched battle, saying that to whichsoever God should 
give the victory, to him also would he give the kingdom of 
Leon : and the King of Castile accepted the defiance, and a 
day was fixed for the battle, and the place was to be Lan- 
tada, which is near unto Carrion. The chief counsellor of 
King Don Alfonso was Don Pero Ansures, a notable and 
valiant knight. This good knight commanded the army of 
his King Don Alfonso, and on the part of King Don Sancho 
came Ruydiez the Cid. Both Kings were in the field that 
day, and full hardily was the battle contested, and great was 
the mortality on either side, for the hatred which used to be 
between Moors and Christians was then between brethren. 
But in the end the skill and courage of my Cid prevailed, 
and King Don Alfonso was fain to avail himself of his 
horse's feet to save himself. 

Nevertheless the power of King Don Alfonso was not 
yet destroyed, and he would not yield up his kingdom : and 
he sent to his brother a second time to bid him battle, say- 
ing that whosoever conquered should then certainly remain 
King of Leon ; and the place appointed was at Vulpegera, 
beside the river Carrion. And the two armies met and 
joined battle, and they of Leon had the victory, for my Cid 
was not in the field. And King Don Alfonso had pity 
upon the Castilians because they were Christians, and gave 
orders not to slay them ; and his brother King Don Sancho 
fled. Now as he was flying, my Cid came up with his green 




Don Alfonso saves his Life by flight. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 5 1 

pennon : and when he saw that the King his Lord had been 
conquered it grieved him sorely : howbeit he encouraged him 
saying, This is nothing, Sir ! to fail or to prosper is as God 
pleases. But do you gather together your people who are 
discomfited, and bid them take heart. The Leonese and Gal- 
egos are with the King your brother, secure as they think 
themselves in their lodging, and taking no thought of you ; 
for it is their custom to extol themselves when their fortune 
is fair, and to mock at others, and in this boastfulness will 
they spend the night, so that we shall find them sleeping at 
break of day, and will fall upon them. And it came to pass 
as he had said. The Leonese lodged themselves in Vul- 
pegera, taking no thought of their enemies, and setting no 
watch ; and Ruydiez arose betimes in the morning, and fell 
upon them, and subdued them before they could take their 
arms. King Don Alfonso fled to the town of Carrion, which 
was three leagues distant, and would have fortified himself 
there in the Church of St. Mary, but he was surrounded and 
constrained to yield. 

Now the knights of Leon gathered together in their flight, 
and when they could not find the King they were greatly 
ashamed, and they turned back and smote the Castilians; and 
as it befell, they encountered King Don Sancho and took 
him prisoner, not having those in his company whom he 
should have had, for his people considered the victory as their 
own, and all was in confusion. And thirteen knights took 
him in their ward and were leading him away ; but my Cid 
beheld them and galloped after them ; he was alone, and had 
no lance, having broken his in battle. And he came up to 
them, and said, Knights, give me my Lord and I will give 
unto you yours. They knew him by his arms, and they made 



52 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

answer, Ruydiez, return in peace and seek not to contend 
with us, otherwise we will carry you away prisoner with him. 
And he waxed wroth, and said, Give me but a lance and I 
will, single as I am, rescue my Lord from all of ye: by 
God's help I will do it. And they held him as nothing be- 
cause he was but one, and gave him a lance. But he at- 
tacked them therewith so bravely that he slew eleven of the 
thirteen, leaving two only alive, on whom he had mercy; 
and thus did he rescue the King. And the Castilians re- 
joiced, greatly at the King's deliverance: and King Don Sancho 
went to Burgos, and took with him his brother prisoner. 

Great was the love which the Infanta Dona Urraca bore 
to her brother King Don Alfonso, and when she heard that 

• 

he was made prisoner, she feared lest he should be put to 
death ; and she took with her the Count Don Peransures, and 
went to Burgos. And they spake with the Cid, and besought 
him that he would join with them and intercede with the 
King that he should release his brother from prison, and let 
ihim become a Monk at Sahagun. Full willing was the Cid 
to serve in anything the Infanta Dona Urraca, and he went 
with her before the King. And she knelt down before the 
Xing her brother, and besought mercy for Don Alfonso, his 
brother and hers. And the King took her by the hand and 
raised her from her knees, and made her sit beside him, and 
said unto her, Now then, my sister, say what you would 
have. And she besought him that he would let their brother 
Don Alfonso take the habit of St. Benedict, in the royal 
Monastery of Sahagun, and my Cid, and Count Peransures 
and the other chief persons who were there present, besought 
him in like manner. And the King took my Cid aside, and 
asked counsel of him what he should do ; and the Cid said, 




Don Alfonso flees away by Night. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 55 

that if Don Alfonso were willing to become a Monk, he 
would do well to set him free upon that condition, and he 
besought him so to do. Then King Dona Sancho, at my 
Cid's request, granted to Dona Urraca what she had asked. 
And he released King Don Alfonso from prison, and Don 
Alfonso became a Monk in the Monastery at Sahagun, more 
by force than of free will. And being in the Monastery he 
spake with Don Peransures, and took counsel with him, and 
fled away by night from the Monks, and went among the 
Moors to King Alimaymon of Toledo. And the Moorish King 
welcomed him with a good will, and did great honour to him, 
and gave him great possessions and many gifts. 

But when King Don Sancho heard how his brother had 
fled from the Monastery, he drew out his host and went against 
the city of Leon. The Leonese would fain have maintained 
the city against him, but they could not, and he took the city 
of Leon, and all the towns and castles which had been under 
the dominion of his brother King Don Alfonso. And then he 
put the crown upon his head, and called himself King of the 
three kingdoms. He was a fair knight and of marvellous cour- 
age, so that both Moors and Christians were dismayed at what 
they saw him do, for they saw that nothing which he willed 
to take by force could stand against him. And when the 
Infanta Dona Urraca, and the men of Zamora, saw that he 
had quiet possession of both his brothers' kingdoms they feared 
that he would come against them and disherit his sister also. 
And for this reason they took Don Arias Gonzalo to be their 
chief captain, Dona Urraca's foster-father, that by his means 
they might protect themselves, if need should be. And it came 
to pass as they had feared, for King Don Sancho knew that 
his sisters greatly loved Don Alfonso, and he thought that by 



56 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

their counsel he had fled from the Monastery, especially by 
Dona Urraca's, because Don Alfonso guided himself in all things 
by her counsel, holding her in place of a mother, for she was a 
lady of great understanding. And he went forth with his army, 
and took from the Infanta Dona Elvira the half of the Infan- 
tazgo which she possessed, and also from Dona Urraca the other 
half. And he went against Toro, the city of Dona Elvira, and 
took it ; and then he went to Zamora to Dona Urraca, bidding 
her yield him up the city, and saying that he would give her 
lands as much as she required in the plain country. But she 
returned for answer, that she would in no manner yield unto 
him that which the King her father had given her ; and she 
besought him that he would suffer her to continue to dwell 
peaceably therein, saying that no disservice should ever be done 
against him on her part. . , 

Then King Don Sancho went to Burgos, because it was 
not the season for besieging a town, being winter. And he 
sent his letters through all the land, calling upon his vassals 
to assemble together upon the first day of March in Sahagun, 
upon pain of forfeiting his favour. Now though the King was 
yet but a young man, whose beard was but just coming, he 
was of so great courage that the people feared him, and 
dared not do otherwise than as he commanded. And they 
assembled together in Sahagun on the day appointed ; and 
when the King heard in what readiness they were, it glad- 
dened him, and he lifted up his hands to God and said, 
Blessed be thy name, O Lord, because thou hast given me 
all the kingdoms of my father. And when he had said this 
he ordered proclamation to be made through the streets of 
Burgos, that all should go forth to protect the host and the 
body of the King their Lord. And the day in which they 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 57 

left Burgos they took up their lodging at Fromesta ; and the 
next day they came to Carrion, but the King would not 
lodge there, and he went on to Sahagun, where the army 
awaited him, and took up his lodging without the town ; and 
on the following morning he bade the host advance, and they 
made such speed that in three days they arrived before Za- 
mora, and pitched their tents upon the banks of the Douro; 
and he ordered proclamation to be made throughout the host 
that no harm should be done until he had commanded it 
And he mounted on horseback with his hidalgos and rode 
round the town, and beheld how strongly it was situated 
upon a rock, with strong walls, and many and strong towers, 
and the river Douro running at the foot thereof ; and he 
said unto his knights, Ye see how strong it is, neither Moor 
nor Christian can prevail against it ; if I could have it from 
my sister either for money or exchange, I should be Lord 
of Spain. 

[Don Sancho now sends the Cid to his sister, proposing that she sell him the town. 
Dona Urraca refuses this offer, and upbraids the Cid for appearing in arms against her, inas- 
much as they were brought up together in the same house. Her reproaches so move the Cid 
that when he takes back her refusal to the King he informs him of his determination to take no 
part in the struggle. Upon this Don Sancho becomes greatly enraged, and banishes him from 
his Kingdom, but this act creates so much disturbance in his army that he is forced to send 
after and beseech his return. The Cid therefore returns to the camp, but still will take no part 
in the struggle, "because of the days which were past."] 

And the King ordered proclamation to be made through- 
out the host that the people should make ready to attack 
the town. And they fought against it three days and three 
nights so bravely that all the ditches were filled up, and the 
barbicans thrown down, and they who were within fought 
sword in hand with those without, and the waters of the 
Douro, as they past below the town, were all discoloured with 



58 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

blood. And when Count Don Garcia de Cabra saw the 
great loss which they were suffering, it grieved him ; and he 
went unto the King and told him that many men were slain, 
and advised him to call off the host that they should no 
longer fight against the town, but hold it besieged, for by 
famine it might soon be taken. Then the King ordered 
them to draw back, and he sent to each camp to know 
how many men had died in the attack, and the number was 
found to be a thousand and thirty. And when the King 
knew this he was greatly troubled for the great loss which 
he had received, and he ordered the town to be beleaguered 
round about, and in this manner he begirt it, that none 
could enter into it, neither go out therefrom ; and there was 
a great famine within the town. And when Don Arias 
Gonzalo saw the misery, and the hunger, and the mortality 
which were there, he said to the Infanta Dona Urraca, You 
see, Lady, the great wretchedness which the people of Zamora 
have suffered, and do every day suffer to maintain their loyal- 
ty ; now then call together the Council, and thank them truly 
for what they have done for you, and bid them give up the 
town within nine days to the King your brother. And we, 
Lady, will go to Toledo to your brother King Don Alfonso, 
for we cannot defend Zamora ; King Don Sancho is of so 
great heart and so resolute, that he will never break up the 
siege, and I do not hold it good that you should abide 
here longer. And Dona Urraca gave orders that the good 
men of Zamora should meet together in Council ; and she 
said unto them, Friends, ye well see the resoluteness of King 
Don Sancho my brother; and already have ye suffered much 
evil and much wretchedness for doing right and loyally, losing 
kinsmen and friends in my service. Ye have done enough, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 59 

and I do not hold it good that ye should perish ; I com- 
mand ye therefore give up the town to him within nine 
days, and I will go to Toledo to my brother King Don 
Alfonso. The men of Zamora when they heard this had 
great sorrow, because they had endured the siege so long 
and must now give up the town at last ; and they deter- 
mined all to go with the Infanta, and not remain in the 
town. 

When Vellido Dolfos heard this, he went to Dona Urraca 
and said, Lady, I came here to Zamora to do you service with 
thirty knights, all well accoutred, as you know ; and I have 
served you long time, and never have I had from you guerdon 
for my service, though I have demanded it ; but now if you 
will grant my demand I will relieve Zamora, and make King 
Don Sancho break up the siege. Then said Dona Urraca, Vel- 
lido, I shall repeat to thee the saying of the wise man, A 
man bargains well with the slothful and with him who is in 
need ; and thus you would deal with me. I do not bid thee 
commit any evil thing, if such thou hast in thy thought; but I 
say unto you, that there is not a man in the world to whom 
if he should relieve Zamora, and make the King my brother 
raise the siege, I would not grant whatsoever he might require. 
And when Vellido heard this he kissed her hand, and went to 
a porter who kept one of the gates of the town, and spake with 
him, saying, that he should open the gate unto him when he 
saw him flying toward it, and he gave him his cloak. Then 
went he to his lodging and armed himself, and mounted his 
horse, and rode to the house of Don Arias Gonzalo, and cried 
with a loud voice, We all know the reason, Don Arias Gon- 
zalo, why you will not let Dofia Urraca exchange Zamora with 
her brother ; it is because you deaf with her like an old traitor. 



OO THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

When Arias Gonzalo heard this, it grieved him to the heart, 
and he said, In an evil day was I born, that so shameful a 
falsehood as this should be said to me in mine old age, and 
there should be none to revenge me ! Then his sons arose 
and armed themselves hastily, and went after Vellido, who fled 
before them toward the gate of the town. The porter when 
he saw him coming opened the gate, and he rode out and 
galloped into the camp of the King Don Sancho, and the 
others followed him till they were nigh the camp, but farther 
they did not venture. And Vellido went to the King, and 
kissed his hand, and said unto him these false words with a 
lying tongue : Sir, because I said to the Council of Zamora 
that they should yield the town unto you, the sons of Arias 
Gonzalo would have slain me,, even as you have seen. And 
therefore come I to you, Sir, and will be' your vassal, if I 
may find favour at your hands. And I will show you how in a 
few days you may have Zamora, if God pleases ; and if I do 
not as I have said, then let me be slain. And the King be- 
lieved all that he said, and received him for his vassal, and 
did him great honour. And all that night they talked together 
of his secrets, and he made the King believe that he knew a 
postern by means of which he would put Zamora into his 
hands. 

On the morrow in the morning, one of the knights who 
were in the town went upon the wall, and cried out with 
a loud voice, so that the greater part of the host heard 
him, King Don Sancho, give ear to what I say ; I am a 
knight and hidalgo, a native of the land of Santiago; and 
they from whom I spring were true men and delighted in 
their loyalty; and I also will live and die in my truth. Give 
ear, for I would undeceive you, and tell you the truth, if you 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 6 1 

will believe me. I say unto you, that from this town of Zamora 
there is gone forth a traitor to kill you ; his name is Vellido 
Dolfos ; he is the son of Adolfo, who slew Don Nuno like 
a traitor, and the grandson of Laino, another traitor, who killed 
his gossip and threw him into the river ; and this is as great 
a traitor as the rest of his race ; look to yourself therefore 
and take heed of him. I say this to you, that if peradventure 
evil should befall you by this, traitor, it may not be said in 
Spain that you were not warned against him. Now the name 
of this knight was Bernal Dianez de Ocampo. And the men 
of Zamora sent also to the King to bid him beware of Vellido, 
and the King took their warning in good part, and sent to say 
unto them, that when he had the town he would deal boun- 
tifully with them, for this which they had done ; nevertheless 
he gave no heed to the warning. And Vellido, when he heard 
this went to the King, and said, Sir, the old Arias Gon- 
zalo is full crafty, and hath sent to say this unto you, because 
he knows that by my means you would have won the town. 
And he called for his horse, feigning that he would 'depart 
because of what had been said. But the King took him by 
the hand and said, Friend and vassal, take no thought for 
this ; I say unto you, that if I may have Zamora, I will make 
you chief therein, even as Arias Gonzalo is now. Then Vellido 
kissed his hand and said, God grant you life, Sir, for many 
and happy years, and let you fulfil what you desire. But the 
traitor had other thoughts in his heart. 

After this Vellido took the King apart and said to him, 
If it please, you, Sir, let us ride out together alone ; we will 
go round Zamora, and see the trenches which you have or- 
dered to be made ; and I will show unto you the postern 
which is called the Queen's, by which' we may enter the town, for 



62 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

it is never closed. When it is night you shall give me a hun- 
dred knights who are hidalgos, well armed, and we will go 
on foot, and the Zamorans because they are weak with famine 
and misery, will let us conquer them, and we will enter and 
open the gate, and keep it open till all your host shall have 
entered in ; and thus shall we win the town of Zamora. The 
King believed what he said, and they took horse and went 
riding round the town, and the King looked at the trenches, 
and that traitor showed him the postern whereof he had spoken. 
And after they had ridden round the town the King alighted 
upon the side of the Douro ; now he carried in his hand a 
light hunting spear which was gilded over, even such as the 
Kings from whom he was descended were wont to bear ; and 
he gave this to Vellido to hold. And Vellido Dolfos, when 
he saw him in that guise, took the hunting spear and thrust 
it between his shoulders, so that it went through him and came 
out of his breast. And when he had stricken him he turned 
the reins and rode as fast as he could toward the postern ; 
this was not the first treason which he had committed, for he 
had killed the Count Don Nufio treacherously. Now it chanced 
that the Cid saw him riding thus, and asked him wherefore 
he fled, and he would not answer; and then the Cid under- 
stood that he had done some treason, and his heart misgave 
him that he had slain the King; and he called in haste for 
his horse, but while they were bringing it, Vellido had ridden 
far away ; and the Cid being eager to follow him, took only 
his lance and did not wait to have his spurs buckled on. And 
he followed him to the postern and had well nigh overtaken 
him, but Vellido got in; and then the Cid said in his anger, 
Cursed be the knight who ever gets on horseback without his 
spurs. Now in all the feats of the Cid, never was fault found 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 63 

in him save only in this, that he did not enter after Vellido 
into the town ; but he did not fail to do this for cowardice, 
neither for fear of death, or of imprisonment ; but because he 
thought that peradventure this was a device between him and 
the King, and that he fled by the King's command ; for certes, 
if he had known that the King was slain, there was nothing 
which would have prevented him from entering the town, and 
slaying the traitor in the streets, thereright. 

Now the history saith, that when Vellido Dolfos had got 
within the postern, he was in such fear both of those who 
were in the town and of those who were without, that he went 
and placed himself under the mantle of the Infanta Dona Urraca. 
When Don Arias Gonzalo knew this, he went unto the Infanta 
and said, Lady, I beseech you that you give up this traitor to 
the Castilians, otherwise be sure that it will be to your own 
harm ; for the Castilians will impeach * all who are in Zamora,. 
and that will be greater dishonour for you and for us. And 
Dona Urraca made answer, Counsel me then so that he may 
not die for this which he hath done. Don Arias Gonzalo then 
answered, Give him unto me, and I will keep him in custody 
for three days, and if the Castilians impeach us we will deliver 
him into their hands; and if they do not impeach us within 
that time, we will thrust him out of the town so that he shall 
not be seen among us. And Don Arias Gonzalo took him 
thence, and secured him with double fetters, and guarded 
him well. 

Meantime the Castilians went to seek their King, and 
they found him by the side of the Douro, where he lay sore- 
ly wounded, even unto death ; but he had not yet lost his. 
speech, and the hunting- spear was in his body, through and 

* See Appendix, Note E. 



64 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. x 

through, and they did not dare to take it out lest he should 
die immediately. And a master of Burgos came up who 
was well skilled in these things, and he sawed off the ends 
of the spear, that he might not lose his speech, and said 
that he should be confessed, for he had death within him. 
Then Count Don Garcia de Cabra, the curly-haired one of 
Granon, said unto him, Sir, think of your soul, for you have 
a desperate wound. And the King made answer, Blessed be 
you, Count, who thus counsel me, for I perceive that I am 
slain; the traitor Vellido has killed me, and I well know 
that this was for my sins, because I broke the oath which I 
made unto the King my father. And as the King was say- 
ing this the Cid came up and knelt before him and said : 
I, Sir, remain .more desolate than any other of your vassals, 
for, for your sake, have I made your brethren mine enemies, 
and all in the world who were against you, and against whom 
it pleased you to go. The King your father commended me 
to them as well as to you, when he divided his kingdoms, 
and I have lost their love for your sake, having done them 
great evil. And now neither can I go before King Don 
Alfonso your brother, nor remain among the Christians before 
Dona Urraca your sister, because they hold that whatsoever 
you have done against them was by my counsel. Now then, 
Sir. remember me before you depart. The King then com- 
manded that they should raise him up in the bed, and the 
Counts and Ricos-omes* stood round about him, and the 
Bishops and Archbishops who had come thither to make ac- 
cord between him and his sister Dona Urraca, and they heard 
what the Cid said, and knew that he said truly ; for what- 
ever good speed King Don Sancho had had in his doings 

* See Appendix, Note F. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 65 

was all by means of my Cid. And the King said unto 
them, I beseech all ye who are here present, Counts and 
Ricos-omes, and all my other vassals, that if my brother King 
Don Alfonso should come from the land of the Moors, ye 
beseech him to show favour unto you, my Cid, and that he 
always be bountiful unto you, and receive you to be his 
vassal ; and if he always doth this and listen unto you, he 
will not be badly advised. Then the Cid arose and kissed 
his hand, and all the chief persons who were there present 
did the like. And after this the King said unto them, I 
beseech ye entreat my brother King Don Alfonso to forgive 
me whatever wrong I have done him, and to pray to God 
to have mercy upon my soul. And when he had said this 
he asked for the candle, and presently his soul departed. 
And all who were there present made great lamentation for 
the King. 





Do?i Diego Ordonez impeacheth Zamora 
— He slays the three sons of Don 
Arias Gonzalo, the champions of the 
city, in the lists — Don Alfonso re- 
turns and is crowned King — The 
Cid administers to him an oath 
that he had no part ?ior knowl- 
edge in his brother ' s death. 

Now when the King was dead, 
the townsmen who were in the camp 
forsook their tents and fled, and much 
did they lose in their flight ; but the 
noble Castilians, thinking rather of 
what they were bound to do as men 
who had always preserved their loy- 
alty, like their ancestors before them, 
would not depart from Zamora, nor break up the siege thereof, 
but remained bravely before it, though they had lost their Lord. 
And they summoned all the Bishops, and took the body of 
the King and sent it full honourably to the Monastery of Ofia, 
and buried him there as beseemed a King : and while one 
part of the chief men of the host accompanied the body, the 
rest remained in the camp before Zamora. And when the 



I 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 6j 

prelates and good men had returned to the army, they took 
counsel together how they should proceed against the men of 
Zamora for this great treason which had been committed. 
Then Count Don Garcia de Cabra arose and said, Friends, 
ye see that we have lost our Lord the King Don Sancho ; 
the traitor Vellido, being his vassal, slew him, and they of 
Zamora have received and harboured him within their walls ; 
and therefore as we think, and as has been said unto us, he 
did this treason by their counsel. Now then if there be one 
here who will impeach them for this thing, we will do what- 
ever may be needful that he may come off with honour, and 
the impeachment be carried through. Then Don Diego Or- 
donez arose, the son of Count Don Ordono, a man of royal 
lineage and great hardihood ; and he said unto them, If ye 
will all assent to this which ye have heard, I will impeach 
the men of Zamora, for the death of the King our Lord ; 
and they all assented, promising to fulfil what had been said. 
Now my Cid did not make this impeachment against the 
people of Zamora, because of the oath which he had sworn. 

Then Don Diego Ordonez went to his lodging and 
armed himself" well, and armed his horse also, and mounted 
and rode toward Zamora. And when he drew nigh unto the 
town, he covered himself with his shield that they might not 
hurt him from the walls, and began to cry aloud, asking if 
Don Arias Gonzalo was there, for he would speak with him. 
A squire who was keeping guard upon the wall went to 
Don Arias and told him that there was a knight well armed 
calling for him, without the walls, and he said that if it 
pleased Don Arias he would shoot at him with a cross-bow, 
and strike him or kill his horse: but Don Arias forbade him, 
saying that he should no ways harm him. And Don Arias 



68 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Gonzalo went with his sons upon the wall to see who called 
for him, and he spake to the knight, saying, Friend, what 
wouldst thou ? And Don Diego Ordonez answered, The Cas- 
tilians have lost their Lord ; the traitor Vellido slew him, 
being his vassal, and ye of Zamora have received Vellido 
and harboured him within your walls. Now therefore I say 
that he is a traitor who hath a traitor with him, if he 
knoweth and consenteth unto the treason. And for this I 
impeach the people of Zamora, the great as well as the little, 
the living and the dead, they who now are and they who are 
yet unborn ; and I impeach the waters which they drink, and 
the garments which they put on ; their bread and their wine, 
and the very stones in their walls. If there be any one in 
Zamora to gainsay what I have said, I will do battle with 
him, and with God's pleasure conquer him, so that the in- 
famy shall remain upon you. Don Arias Gonzalo replied, 
If I were what thou sayest I am, it had been better for me 
never to have been born ; but in what thou sayest thou liest. 
In that which the great do the little have no fault, nor the 
dead for the deeds of the living, which they neither see nor 
hear : but setting aside these and the things which have no 
understanding, as to the rest I say that thou liest, and I 
will do battle with thee upon this quarrel, or give thee one 
in my stead. But know that you have been ill advised in 
making this impeachment, for the manner is, that whosoever 
impeacheth a Council must do battle with five, one after an- 
other, and if he conquer the five he shall be held a true 
man, but if either of the five conquer him, the Council is 
held acquitted and he a liar. When Don Diego heard this 
it troubled him ; howbeit he dissembled this right well, and 
said unto Don Arias Gonzalo, I will bring twelve Castilians, 







iW'l *l .,/ 




Jflffij$*" 



Don Diego Ordonez cries aloud to the Town. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 7 1 

and do you bring twelve men of Zamora, and they shall 
swear upon the Holy Gospel to judge justly between us, 
and if they find that I am bound to do battle with five, I 
will perform it. And Don Arias made answer that he said 
well, and it should be so. And truce was made for three 
times nine days, till this should have been determined and 
the combat fought. 

Then when the truce was made, Don Arias Gonzalo went 
out from the town into the host of the Castilians, and his 
sons with him, and many of the knights of the town ; and 
all the Ricos-omes and knights who were in the host assembled 
together with them, and consulted what was to be done in 
this impeachment. And they chose out twelve alcaldes on the 
one part, and twelve on the other, who should decide in what 
manner he was bound to perform combat who impeached a 
Council. And the four and twenty alcaldes accorded concern- 
ing what was the law in this case ; and two of them who were 
held the most learned in these things arose, the one being a 
Castilian and the other of Zamora, and said that they had 
found the law as it was written to be this : That whosoever 
impeacheth the Council of a town which was a bishop's seat, 
musf do battle with five in the field, one after another ; and 
that after every combat there should be given unto him fresh 
arms and horse, and three sops of bread, and a draught either 
of wine or of water, as he chose. And in this sentence which 
the twain pronounced, the other twenty and two accorded. 

On the morrow before the hour of tierce, the four and 
twenty alcaldes marked out the lists upon the sand beside 
the river, at the place which is called Santiago, and in the 
middle of the lists they placed a bar, and ordained that he 
who won the battle should lay hand on the bar, and say that 



J2 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

he had conquered : and then they appointed a term of nine 
days for the combatants to come to those lists which had been 
assigned. And when all was appointed as ye have heard, Don Arias 
returned to Zamora, and told the Infanta Dona Urraca all that 
had been done, and she ordered a meeting to be called, at which 
all the men of the town assembled. And when they were gathered 
together, Don Arias Gonzalo said unto them, Friends, I beseech 
ye, if there be any here among ye who took counsel for the 
death of King Don Sancho, or were privy thereunto, that ye now 
tell me, and deny it not ; for rather would I go with my sons 
to the land of the Moors, than be overcome in the field, and held 
for a traitor. Then they all replied, that there was none there 
who knew of the treason, nor had consented unto it. At this was 
Don Arias Gonzalo well pleased, and he bade them go each 
\o his house ; and he went to his house also with his sons, 
and chose out four of them to do combat, and said that he would 
be the fifth himself; and he gave them directions how to de- 
mean themselves in the lists, and said, that he would enter first; 
and if, said he, what the Castilian saith be true, I would die 
first, not to see the infamy ; but if what he saith be false, I shall 
conquer him, and ye shall ever be held in honour. 

When the day appointed was come, Don Arias Gonzalo 
early in the morning armed his sons, and they armed him ; and 
it was told that Don Diego Ordonez was already in the lists. 
Then he and his sons mounted their horses, and as they rode 
through the gates of their house, Dona Urraca with a company 
of dames met them, and said to Don Arias, weeping, Remember 
now how my father, King Don Ferrando, left me to your care,, 
and you swore between his hands that you would never for- 
sake me ; and lo ! now you are forsaking me. I beseech you re- 
main with me, and go not to this battle ; for there is reason enough 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 73 

why you should be excused, and not break the oath which you 
made unto my father. And she took hold on him, and would 
not let him go, and made him be disarmed. Then came many 
knights around him, to demand arms of him, and request that 
they might do in battle in his stead; nevertheless he would 
give them to none. And he called for his son Pedro Arias, 
who was a right brave knight, though but of green years, and 
who had greatly entreated his father before this, that he would 
suffer him to fight in his stead. And Don Arias armed him 
completely with his own hands, and instructed him how to de- 
mean himself, and gave him his blessing with his right hand, 
and said unto him, that in such a point he went to save the 
people of Zamora, as when our Lord Jesus Christ came through 
the Virgin Mary, to save the people of this world, who were 
lost by our father Adam. Then went they into the field, where 
Don Diego Ordonez was awaiting them, and Pedrarias entered 
the lists, and the judges placed them each in his place, and di- 
vided the sun between them, and went out, leaving them in 
the lists. 

Then they turned their horses one against the other, and 
ran at each other full bravely, like good knights. Five times 
they encountered, and at the sixth encounter their spears brake, 
and they laid hand upon their swords, and dealt each other 
such heavy blows that their helmets failed ; and in this man- 
ner the combat between them continued till noon. And when 
Don Diego Ordonez saw that it lasted so long, and he could 
not yet conquer him, he called to mind that he was there 
fighting to revenge his Lord, who had been slain by a foul 
treason, and he collected together all his strength. And he 
lifted up his sword and smote Pedrarias upon the helmet, so 
that he cut through it, and through the hood of the mail 



74 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

also, and made a wound in the head. And Pedrarias with 
the agony of death, and with the blood which ran over his 
eyes, bowed down to the neck of the horse ; yet with all 
this he neither lost his stirrups, nor let go his sword. And 
Don Diego Ordonez seeing him thus, thought that he was 
dead, and would not strike him again ; and he called aloud, 
saying, Don Arias, send me another son, for this one will 
never fulfil your bidding. When Pedrarias heard this, griev- 
ously wounded as he was, he wiped the blood away with the 
sleeve of his mail, and went fiercely against him : and he 
took the sword in both hands, and thought to give it him 
upon his head ; but the blow missed, and fell upon the horse, 
and cut off great part of his nostrils, and the reins with it ; 
and the horse immediately ran away because of the great 
wound which he had received. And Don Diego had no reins 
wherewith to stop him, and perceiving that he should else be 
carried out of the lists, he threw himself off. And while he 
did this, Pedrarias fell down dead, just without the mark. 
And Don Diego Ordonez laid hand on the bar, and said, 
Praised be the name of God, one is conquered. And incon- 
tinently the judges came and took him by the hand, and led 
him to a tent and disarmed him, and gave him three sops, 
and he drank of the wine^and rested awhile. And afterward 
they gave him other arms, and a horse that was a right good 
one, and went with him to the lists. 

Then Don Arias Gonzalo called for another son, whose 
name was Diego Arias, and said unto him, To horse ! and 
go fight to deliver this Council, and to revenge the death of 
your brother : and he answered, For this am I come hither. 
Then his father gave him his blessing and went with him to 
the lists. And the judges took the reins of the two cham- 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 75 

pions and led them each to his place, and went out and 
left them in the lists. And they ran against each other with 
such force that both shields failed, and in another career they 
brake their lances. Then laid they hand on their good swords, 
and delivered such blows that their helmets were cut away, 
and the sleeves of the mail. And at length Diego Arias 
received such a blow near the heart that he fell dead. And 
Don Diego Ordonez went to the bar and laid hold on it, 
and cried out to Don Arias Gonzalo, Send me another son, 
for I have conquered two, thanks be to God. Then the 
judges came and said that the dead knight was not yet out 
of the lists, and that he must alight and cast him out. And 
Don Diego Ordonez did as they had directed him, and 
alighted from his horse and took the dead man by the leg, 
and dragged him to the line, and then letting the leg fall 
he thrust him out of the lists with his feet. And then he 
went and laid hand upon the bar again, saying that he had 
liefer fight with a living man than drag a dead one out of the 
field. And then the judges came to him, and led him to the 
tent, and disarmed him, and gave him the three sops and the 
wine, as they had done before, and sent to say to Don Arias 
Gonzalo that this son also was slain, and that he should send 
another. 

Then Don Arias Gonzalo, in great rage and in great 
trouble called for his son Rodrigo Arias, who was a good 
knight, right hardy and valiant, the elder of all the brethren ; 
he had been in many a tournament, and with good fortune. 
And Don Arias said unto him, Son, go now and do battle 
with Diego Ordonez, to save Dona Urraca your Lady, and your- 
self, and the Council of Zamora ; and if you do this, in happy 
hour were you born. Then Rodrigo Arias kissed his hand and 



76 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

answered, Father, I thank you much for what you have said, and 
be sure that I will save them, or take my death. And he took 
his arms and mounted, and his father gave him his blessing, 
and went with him to the lists; and the judges took his reins 
and led him in. And when the judges were gone out, they 
twain ran at each other, and Don Diego missed his blow, but 
Rodrigo Arias did not miss, for he gave him so great a stroke 
with the lance that it pierced through the shield, and broke 
the saddle-bow behind, and made him lose his stirrups, and he 
embraced the neck of his horse. But albeit that Don Diego 
was sorely bested with that stroke, he took heart presently, and 
went bravely against him, and dealt him so great a blow that 
he broke the lance in him ; for it went through the shield 
and all his other arms, and great part of the lance remained 
in his flesh. After this they laid hand to sword, and gave each 
to the other great blows, and great wounds with them. And 
Rodrigo Arias gave so great a wound to Diego Ordonez, that 
he cut his left arm through to the bone. And Don Diego 
Ordonez, when he felt himself so sorely wounded, went against 
Rodrigo Arias and delivered him a blow upon the head which 
cut through the helmet and the hood of the mail, and entered 
into his head. When Rodrigo Arias felt himself wounded to 
death, he let go the reins and took his sword in both hands, 
and gave so great a blow to the horse of Don Diego that he 
cut his head open. And the horse in his agony ran out of the 
lists, and carried Don Diego out also, and there died. And Rod- 
rigo Arias fell dead as he was following him. Then Don Diego 
Ordonez would have returned into the field to do battle with 
the other two, but the judges would not permit this, neither did 
they think good to decide whether they of Zamora were over- 
come in this third duel or not. And in this manner the thing 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. yj 

was left undecided. Nevertheless, though no sentence was given, 
there remained no infamy upon the people of Zamora. But 
better had it been for Don Arias Gonzalo if he had given up 
Vellido to the Castilians, that he might have died the death of 
a traitor; he would not then have lost these three sons, who 
died like good men, in their duty. Now what was the end of 
Vellido the history sayeth not, through the default of the Chron- 
iclers ; but it is to be believed, that because the impeachment 
was not made within three days, Don Arias Gonzalo thrust him 
out of the town as Dona Urraca had requested, and that he fled 
into other lands, peradventure among the Moors. And though 
it may be that he escaped punishment in this world, yet certes 
he could not escape it in hell, where he is tormented with 
Dathan and Abiram, and with Judas the Traitor, for ever and 
ever. 

In the mean time the Infanta Dona Urraca wrote letters 
secretly and sent messengers with them to Toledo to King Don 
Alfonso, telling him that King Don Sancho his brother was dead, 
and had left no heir,' and that he should come as speedily as 
he could to receive the kingdoms. Moreover the Castilians as- 
sembled together and found that as King Don Sancho had left 
no son to succeed him they were bound by right to receive 
King Don Alfonso as their Lord; and they also sent unto him 
in secret. 

As soon as King Don Alfonso arrived at Zamora, he, pitched 
his tents in the field of Santiago, and took counsel with his 
sister. And the Infanta Dona Urraca, who was a right prudent 
lady and a wise, sent letters throughout the land, that a Cortes 
should assemble and receive him for their Lord. And when the 
Leonese and the Galegos knew that their Lord King Don Al- 
fonso was come, they were full joyful, and they came to Zamora 



78 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CIO. 

and received him for their Lord and King. And afterward the 
Castilians arrived, and they of Navarre, and they also received 
him for their Lord and King, but upon this condition, that he 
should swear that he had not taken counsel for the death of 
his brother King Don Sancho. Howbeit they did not come 
forward to receive the oath, and they kissed his hands in 
homage, all, save only Ruydiez, my Cid. And when King Don 
Alfonso saw that the Cid did not do homage and kiss his hand, 
as all the other chief persons and prelates and Councils had 
done, he said, Since now ye have all received me for your 
Lord, and given me authority over ye, I would know of the 
Cid Ruydiez why he will not kiss my hand and acknowledge 
me; for I would do something for him, as I promised unto my 
father King Don Ferrando, when he commended him to me 
and to my brethren. And the Cid arose and said, Sir, all 
whom you see here present, suspect that by your counsel 
the King Don Sancho your brother came to his death ; and 
therefore, I say unto you that, unless you clear yourself of 
this, as by right you should do, I will never kiss your hand, 
nor receive you for my Lord. Then said the King, Cid, 
what you say pleases me well; and here I swear to God 
and to St. Mary, that I never slew him, nor took counsel 
for his death, neither did it please me, though he had taken 
my kingdom from me. And I beseech ye therefore all, as 
friends and true vassals, that ye tell me how I may clear 
myself. And the chiefs who were present said, that he and 
twelve of the knights who came with him from Toledo, 
should make this oath in the church at St. Gadea at Burgos, 
and that so he should be cleared 1 . 

So the King and all his company took horse and went to 
Burgos. And when the day appointed for the oath was come, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 79 

the Kinar went to hear mass in the church of Gadea, and his 
sisters the Infantas Dona Urraca and Dona Elvira with him, 
and all his knights. And the King came forward upon a high 
stage that all the people might see him, and my Cid came to 
him to receive the oath ; and my Cid took the book of the 
Gospels and opened it, and laid it upon the altar, and the 
King laid his hands upon it, and the Cid said unto him, King 
Don Alfonso, you come here to swear concerning the death 
of King Don Sancho your brother, that you neither slew 
him nor took counsel for his death ; say now you and these 
hidalgos, if ye swear this. And the King and the hidalgos 
answered and said, Yea, we swear it. And the Cid said, If 
ye knew of this thing, or gave command that it should be 
done, may you die even such a death as your brother the 
King Don Sancho, by the hand of a villain whom you trust ; 
one who is not a hidalgo, from another land, not a Castilian ; 
and the King and the knights who were with him said 
Amen. And the King's colour changed ; and the Cid repeated 
the oath unto him a second time, and the King and the 
twelve knights said Amen to it in like manner, and in like 
manner the countenance of the King was changed again. And 
my Cid repeated the oath unto him a third time, and the King 
and the knights said Amen ; but the wrath of the King was 
exceeding great, and he said to the Cid, Ruydiez, why dost thou 
thus press me, man ? To-day thou swearest me, and to-morrow 
thou wilt kiss my hand. And from that day forward there was 
no love toward my Cid in the heart of the King. 

After this was King Don Alfonso crowned King of Castile, 
and Leon, and Galicia, and Portugal ; and he called himself King 
and Emperor of all Spain, even as his father had done before him. 
And in the beginning of his reign he did in all things according 



8o 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



to the counsel of the Infanta Dona Urraca his sister; and he was 
a good King, and kept his kingdom so well, that rich and poor 
alike dwelt in peace and security, neither did one man take arms 
against another, nor dare to do it, if he valued the eyes in his 
head. And if the King was noble and high of lineage, much 
more was he of heart ; and in his days justice abounded in the 
land, so that if a woman had gone alone throughout the whole 
of his dominions, bearing gold and silver in her hand, she would 
have found none to hurt her, neither in the waste, nor in the 
peopled country. The merchants and pilgrims also who passed 
through his lands were so well protected, that none durst do 
them wrong. Never while the kingdom was his, had they of 
his land to do service to any other Lord. And he was a com- 
forter of the sorrowful, and an increaser of the faith, and a 
defender of the churches, and the strength of the people ; a 
judge without fear ; there was not in Spain a consoler of the 
poor and of those who were oppressed, till he came. 




*-** 




King Alfonso, misled by the slanders of his enemies, banishes Ruydiez — There- 
upon my Cid, with three hundred retainers, departs into the country of the 
Moors — He captures Alcocer, and defeats a great army of Moors who 
come to besiege him — Of his share of the spoils he sends a present to 
King Alfonso. 



[The banishment of the Cid took place in the year 10S1, about seven years after Al- 
fonso came to the throne, as 'narrated in the preceding chapter. During these years the 
Cid had stood high in royal favour, but by the influence of envious rivals the King's mind 
had become poisoned against him.] 

And the King went with all speed to Burgos and sent 
thence to bid the Cid come unto him. Now my Cid knew 
the evil disposition of the King toward him, and when he 
received his bidding, he made answer that he would meet 
him between Burgos and Bivar. And the King went out 
from Burgos and came nigh unto Bivar; and the Cid came 
up to him and would have kissed his hand, but the King 
withheld it, and said angrily unto him, Ruydiez, quit my land.* 
Then the Cid clapped spurs to the mule upon which he rode, 
and vaulted into a piece of ground which was his own in- 



* See Appendix— Note G. 



82 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

heritance, and answered, Sir, I am not in your land, but in 
my own. And the King replied full wrath fully, Go out of 
my kingdoms without any delay. And the Cid made answer, 
Give me then thirty days' time, as is the right of the hidal- 
gos ; and the King said he would not, but that if he were 
not gone in nine days' time he would come and look for 
him. The Counts were well pleased at this ; but all the 
people of the land were sorrowful. And then the King and 
the Cid parted. And the Cid sent for all his friends and his 
kinsmen and vassals, and told them how King Don Alfonso had 
banished him from the land, and asked of them who would 
follow him into banishment, and who would remain at home. 
Then Alvar Fanez, who was his cousin-german, came forward and 
said, Cid, we will all go with you, through desert and through 
peopled country, and never fail you. In your service will we 
spend our mules and horses, our wealth and our garments, and 
ever while we live be unto you loyal friends and vassals. And 
they all confirmed what Alvar Fanez had said ; and the Cid 
thanked them for their love, and said that there might come 
a time in which he should guerdon them. 

And as he was about to depart he looked back upon his 
own home, and when he saw his hall deserted, the household 
chests unfastened, the doors open, no cloaks hanging up, no 
seats in the porch, no hawks upon the perches, the tears came 
into his eyes, and he said, My enemies have done this . . . 
God be praised for all things. And he turned toward the East, 
and knelt and said, Holy Mary Mother, and all Saints, pray to 
God for me, that he may give me strength to destroy all the 
Pagans, and to win enough from them to requite my friends 
therewith, and all those who follow and help me. Then he called 
for Alvar Fanez and said unto him, Cousin, the poor have no 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 83 

part in the wrong which the King hath done us ; see now 
that no wrong be done unto them along our road : and he 
called for his horse. And then an old woman who was stand- 
ing at her door said, Go in a lucky minute, and make spoil 
of whatever you wish. And with this proverb he rode on, say- 
ing, Friends, by God's good pleasure we shall return to Castile 
with great honour and great gain. And as they went out from 
Bivar they had a crow on their right hand, and when they came 
to Burgos they had a crow on the left* 

My Cid Ruydiez entered Burgos, having sixty streamers in 
his company. And men and women went forth to see him, and 
the men of Burgos and the women of Burgos were at their win- 
dows, weeping, so great was their sorrow; and they said with one 
accord, God, how good a vassal if he had but a good Lord ! and 
willingly would each have bade him come in, but no one dared 
so to do. For King Don Alfonso in his anger had sent letters 
to Burgos, saying that no man should give the Cid a lodging;, 
and that whosoever disobeyed should lose all that he had, and 
moreover the eyes in his head. Great sorrow had these Chris- 
tian folk at this, and they hid themselves when he came near 
them because they did not dare speak to him ; and my Cid 
went to his Posada, and when he came to the door he found 
it fastened, for fear of the King. And his people called out 
with a loud voice, but they within made no answer. And the 
Cid rode up to the door, and took his foot out of the stirrup, 
and gave it a kick, but the door did not open with it, for ft 
was well secured ; a little girl of nine years old then came out 
of one of the houses and said unto him, O Cid, the King hath 
forbidden us to receive you. We dare not open our doors to 
you, for we should lose our houses and all that we have, and 

* See Appendix, Note H. 



84 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

the eyes in our head. Cid, our evil would not help you, but 
God and all his Saints be with you. And when she had said 
this she returned into the house. And when the Cid knew 
what the King had done he turned away from the door and 
rode up to St. Mary's, and there he alighted and knelt down, 
and prayed with all his heart; and then he mounted again and 
rode out of the town, and pitched his tent near Arlanzon, upon 
the Glera, that is to say, upon the sands. My Cid Ruydiez, 
he who in a happy hour first girt on his sword, took up his 
lodging upon the sands, because there was none who would re- 
ceive him within their door. He had a good company round 
about him, and there he lodged as if he had been among the 
mountains. 

Moreover the King had given orders that no food should 
be sold them in Burgos, so that they could not buy even a 
pennyworth. But Martin Antolinez, who was a good Bur- 
galese, he supplied my Cid and all his company with bread 
and wine abundantly. Campeador, said he to the Cid, to-night 
will we rest here, and to-morrow we will be gone : I shall be 
accused for what I have done in serving you, and shall be 
in the King's displeasure ; but following your fortunes, sooner 
or later, the King will have me for his friend, and if not, I 
do not care a fig for what I leave behind. Now this Martin 
Antolinez was nephew unto the Cid, being the son of his 
brother, Ferrando Diaz. And the Cid said unto him, Martin 
Antolinez, you are a bold Lancer ; if I live I will double 
you your pay. You see I have nothing with me, and yet 
must provide for my companions. I will take two chests and 
fill them with sand, and do you go in secret to Rachel and 
Vidas, and tell them to come hither privately ; for I cannot 
take my treasures with me because of their weight, and will 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 85 

pledge them in their hands. Let them come for the chests 
at night, that no man may see them. God knows that I do 
this thing more of necessity than of wilfulness ; but by God's 
good help I shall redeem all. Now Rachel and Vidas were 
rich Jews, from whom the Cid used to receive money for 
his spoils. And Martin Antolinez went in quest of them, 
and he passed through Burgos and entered into the Castle ; 
and when he saw them he said, Ah, Rachel and Vidas, my 
dear friends ! now let me speak with ye in secret. And 
they three went apart. And he said to them, Give me your 
hands that you will not discover me neither to Moor nor 
Christian ! I will make you rich men for ever. The Cam- 
peador went for the tribute, and he took great wealth, and 
some of it he has kept for himself. He has two chests full 
of gold ; ye know that the King is in anger against him, 
and he cannot carry these away with him without their 
being seen. He will leave them therefore in your hands, 
and you shall lend him money upon them, swearing with 
great oaths and upon your faith, that ye will not open them 
till a year be past. Rachel and Vidas took counsel together 
and answered, We well knew he got something when he en- 
tered the land of the Moors; he who has treasures does not 
sleep without suspicion ; we will take the chests, and place 
them where they shall not be seen. But tell us with what 
will the Cid be contented, and what gain will he give us 
for the year ? Martin Antolinez answered like a prudent man, 
My Cid requires what is reasonable ; he will ask but little to 
leave his treasures in safety. Men come to him from all parts. 
He must have six hundred marks. And the Jews said, We will 
advance him so much. Well, then, said Martin Antolinez, ye see 
that the night is advancing; the Cid is in haste, give us the. 



86 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

marks. This is not the way of business, said they ; we must 
take first, and then give. Ye say well, replied the Burgalese; 
come then to the Campeador, and we will help you to bring 
away the chests, so that neither Moors nor Christians may see 
us. So they went to horse and rode out together, and they did 
not cross the bridge, but rode through the water that no man 
might see them, and they came to the tent of the Cid. 

Meantime the Cid had taken two chests, which were cov- 
ered with leather of red and gold, and the nails which fastened 
down the leather were well gilt ; they were ribbed with bands 
of iron, and each fastened with three locks ; they were heavy, 
and he filled them with sand. And when Rachel and Vidas 
entered his tent with Martin Antolinez, they kissed his hand; 
and the Cid smiled and said to them, Ye see that I am go- 
ing out of the land, because of the King's displeasure, but I 
shall leave something with ye. And they made answer, Martin 
Antolinez has covenanted with us, that we shall give you six 
hundred marks upon these chests, and keep them a full year, 
swearing not to open them till that time be expired, else shall 
we be perjured. Take the chests, said Martin Antolinez ; I 
will go with you, and bring back the marks, for my Cid must 
move before cockcrow. So they took the chests, and though 
they were both strong men they could not raise them from the 
ground ; and they were full glad of the bargain which they had 
made. And Rachel then went to the Cid and kissed his hand 
and said, Now, Campeador, you are going from Castile among 
strange nations,, and your gain will be great, even as your for- 
tune is. I kiss your hand, Cid, and have a gift for you, a 
red skin ; it is Moorish and honourable. And the Cid said, It 
pleases me : give it me if ye have brought it, if not reckon 
it upon the chests. And they departed with the chests, and 




Rachel and Vidas take thcCid's chest as security. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 89 

Martin Antolinez and his people helped them, and went with 
them. And when they had placed the chests in safety, they 
spread a carpet in the middle of the hall, and laid a sheet upon 
it, and they threw down upon it three hundred marks of silver. 
Don Martin counted them, and took them without weighing. 
The other three hundred they paid in gold. Don Martin had 
five squires with him, and he loaded them all with the money. 
And when this was done he said to them, Now Don Rachel 
and Vidas, you have got the chests, and I who got them for 
you well deserve a pair of hose. And the Jews said to each 
other, Let us give him a good gift for this which he has done ; 
and they said to him, We will give you enough for hose and 
for a rich doublet and a good cloak ; you shall have thirty 
marks. Don Martin thanked them and took the marks, and 
bidding them both farewell, he departed right joyfully. 

When Martin Antolinez came into the Cid's tent he said 
unto him, I have sped well, Campeador ! you have gained six 
hundred marks, and I thirty. Now then strike your tent and 
be gone. The time draws on, and you may be with your 
Lady Wife at St. Pedro de Cardena, before the cock crows. 
So the tent was struck, and my Cid and his company went 
to horse at this early hour. And the Cid turned his horse's 
head toward St. Mary's, and with his right hand he blessed 
himself on the forehead, and he said, God be praised ! help 
me, St. Mary. I go from Castile because the anger of the 
King is against me, and I know not whether I shall ever 
enter it again in all my days. Help me, glorious Virgin, in 
my goings, both by night and by day. If you do this and my 
lot be fair, I will send rich and goodly gifts to your altar, and 
will have a thousand masses sung there. Then with a good 
heart he gave his horse the reins. And Martin Antolinez said 



90 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

to him, Go ye on ; I must back to my wife and tell her what 
she is to do during my absence. I shall be with you in good 
time. And back he went to Burgos, and my Cid and his 
company pricked on. The cocks were crowing amain, and the 
day began to break, when the good Cam'peador reached St. 
Pedro's. The Abbot Don Sisebuto was saying matins, and Dona 
Ximena and five of her ladies of good lineage were with him, 
praying to God and St. Peter to help my Cid. And when he 
called at the gate and they knew his voice, God, what a joyful 
man was the Abbot Don Sisebuto ! Out into the courtyard they 
went with torches and with tapers, and the Abbot gave thanks 
to God that he now beheld the face of my Cid. And the Cid 
told him all that had befallen him, and how he was a banished 
man ; and he gave him fifty marks for himself, and a hundred 
for Dona Ximena and her children. Abbot, said he, I leave two 
little girls behind me, whom I commend to your care. Take 
you care of them and of my wife and of her ladies : when this 
money be gone, if it be not enough, supply them abundantly: 
for every mark which you expend upon them I will give the 
Monastery lour. And the Abbot promised to do this with 
a right good will. Then Dona Ximena came up, and her 
daughters with her, each of them borne in arms, and she knelt 
down on both her knees before her husband, weeping bitterly, 
and she would have kissed his hand ; and she said to him, Lo, 
now you are banished from the land by mischief-making men, 
and here am I with your daughters, who are little ones and of 
tender years, and we and you must be parted, even in your 
lifetime. For the love of St. Mary, tell me now what we shall 
do. And the Cid took the children in his arms, and held them 
to his heart and wept, for he dearly loved them. Please God 
and St. Mary, said he, I shall yet live to give these my 




And my Cid embraced Dona Ximena. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 93 

daughters in marriage with my own hands, and to do you 
service yet, my honoured wife, whom I have ever loved, even 
as my own soul. 

A great feast did they make that day in the Monastery for 
the good Campeador, and the bells of St. Pedro's rung merrily. 
Meantime the tidings had gone through Castile how my Cid 
was banished from the land, and great was the sorrow of the 
people. Some left their houses to follow him, others forsook 
their honourable offices which they held. And that day a hundred 
and fifteen knights assembled at the bridge of Arlanzon, all in 
quest of my Cid ; and there Martin Antolinez joined them, and 
they rode on together to St. Pedro's. And when he of Bivar 
knew what a goodly company were coming to join him, he 
rejoiced in his own strength, and rode out to meet them and 
greeted them full courteously; and they kissed his hand, and he 
said to them, I pray to God that I may one day requite ye 
well, because ye have forsaken your houses and your heritages 
for my sake, and I trust that I shall pay ye twofold. Six days 
of the term allotted were now gone, and three only remained: 
if after that time he should be found within the King's do- 
minions, neither for gold nor for silver could he then escape. 
That day they feasted together, and when it was evening the Cid 
distributed among them all that he had, giving to each man 
according to what he was; and he told them that they must 
meet at mass after matins, and depart at that early hour. 
Before the cock crew they were ready, and the Abbot said the 
mass of the Holy Trinity, and when it was done they left the 
church and went to horse. And my Cid embraced Dona Xime- 
na and his daughters, and blessed them ; and the parting between 
them was like separating the nail from the quick flesh : and he 
wept and continued to look round after them. Then Alvar Fafiez 



94 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

came up to him and said, Where is your courage, my Cid ? In a 
good hour were you born of woman. Think of our road now ; 
these sorrows will yet be turned into joy. And the Cid spake 
again to the Abbot, commending his family to his care; — well 
did the Abbot know that he should one day receive good 
guerdon. And as he took leave of the Cid, Alvar Fafiez said to 
him, Abbot, if you see any who come to follow us, tell them 
what route we take, and bid them make speed, for they may 
reach us either in the waste or in the' peopled country. And 
then they loosed the reins and pricked forward. 

That night my Cid lay at Spinar de Can, and people flock- 
ed to him from all parts, and early on the morrow he set out ; 
Santestevan lay on his left hand, which is a good city, and Ahilon 
on the right, which belongs to the Moors, and he passed by 
Alcobiella, which is the boundary of Castile. And 'he went by 
the Calzada de Quinea, and crossed the Douro upon rafts. That 
night, being the eighth, they rested at Figeruela, and more ad- 
venturers came to join him. And when my Cid was fast asleep, 
the Angel Gabriel appeared to him in a vision, and said, Go 
on boldly and fear nothing; for everything shall go well with 
thee as long as thou livest, and all the things which thou begin- 
nest, thou shalt bring to good end, and thou shalt be rich and 
honourable. And the Cid awoke and blessed himself: and he 
crossed his forehead and rose from his bed, and knelt down and 
gave thanks to God for the mercy which he had vouchsafed him, 
being right joyful because of the vision. Early on the morrow 
they set forth ; now this was the last day of the nine. And 
they went on toward the Sierra de Miedes. Before sunset the 
Cid halted and took account of his company ; there were three 
hundred lances, all with streamers, beside foot-soldiers. And he 
said unto them, Now take and eat, for we must pass this great 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 95 

and wild Sierra, that we may quit the land of King Alfonso 
this night. To-morrow he who seeks us may find us. So they 
passed the Sierra that night. 

Now hath my Cid left the kingdom of King Don Alfonso, 
and entered the country of the Moors. And at daybreak they 
were near the brow of the Sierra, and they halted there upon 
the top of the mountains, and gave barley to their horses, and 
remained there until evening. And they set forward when the 
evening had closed, that none might see them, and continued 
their way all night, and before dawn they came near to Castrejon, 
which is upon the Henares. And Alvar Fanez said unto the 
Cid, that he would take with him two hundred horsemen, and 
scour the country as far as Fita and Guadalajara and Alcala, 
and lay hands on whatever he could find, without fear either 
of King Alfonso or of the Moors. And he counselled him to 
remain in ambush where he was, and surprise the castle of 
Castrejon : and it seemed good unto my Cid. Away went Alvar 
Fanez, and Alvar Alvarez with him, and Alvar Salvadorez, and 
Galin Garcia, and the two hundred horsemen ; and the Cid re- 
mained in ambush with the rest of his company. And as soon 
as it was morning, the Moors of Castrejon, knowing nothing of 
these who were so near them, opened the castle gates, and 
went out to their work as they were wont to do. And the 
Cid rose from ambush and fell upon them, and took all their 
flocks, and made straight for the gates, pursuing them. And 
there was a cry within the castle that the Christians were upon 
them, and they who were within ran to the gates to defend them, 
but my Cid came up sword in hand ; eleven Moors did he 
slay with his own hand, and they forsook the gate and fled be- 
fore him to hide themselves within, so that he won the Castle 
presently, and took gold and silver, and whatever else he would. 



96 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Alvar Fanez meantime scoured the country along the Henares 
as far as Alcala, and he returned driving flocks and herds before 
him, with great stores of wearing apparel, and of other plunder. 
He came with the banner of Minaya, and there were none who 
dared fall upon his rear. And when the' Cid knew that he was 
nigh at hand he went out to meet him, and praised him greatly 
for what he had done, and gave thanks to God. And he gave 
order that all the spoils should be heaped together, both what 
Alvar Fanez had brought, and what had been taken in the 
Castle ; and he said to him, Brother, of all this which God 
hath given us, take you the fifth, for you well deserve it ; but 
Minaya would not, saying, You have need of it for our support. 
And the Cid divided the spoil among the knights and 
foot-soldiers, to each his due portion; to every horseman a hun- 
dred marks of silver, and half as much to the foot-soldiers: 
and because he could find none to whom to sell his fifth, he 
spake to the Moors of Castrejon, and sent to those of Fita 
and Guadalajara, telling them that they might come safely to 
purchase the spoil, and the prisoners also whom he had taken, 
both men-prisoners and women, for he would have none with 
him. And they came, and valued the spoil and the prisoners, 
and gave for them three thousand marks of silver, which they 
paid within three days : they bought also much of the spoil 
which had been divided, making great gain, so that all who 
were in my Cid's company were full rich. And the heart of 
my Cid was joyous, and he sent to King Don Alfonso, telling 
him that he and his companions would yet do him service 
upon the Moors. 

Then my Cid assembled together his good men and said 
unto them, Friends, we cannot take up our abode in this Castle, 
for there is no water in it, and moreover the King is at peace 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 97 

with these Moors, and I know that the treaty between them 
hath been written ; so that if we should abide here he would 
come against us with all his power, and with all the power of 
the Moors, and we could not stand against him. If therefore 
it seem good unto you, let us leave the rest of our prisoners 
here, for it does not beseem us to take any with us, but to 
be as free from all incumbrance as may be, like men who are 
to live by war, and to help ourselves with our arms. And it 
pleased them well that it should be so. And he said to them, 
Ye have all had your shares, neither is there anything owing 
to any one among ye. Now then let us be ready to take horse 
betimes on the morrow, for I would not fight against my Lord 
the King. So on the morrow they went to horse and departed, 
being rich with the spoils which they had won ; and they left 
the Castle to the Moors, who remained blessing them for this 
bounty which they had received at their hands. Then my Cid 
and his company went up the Henares as fast as they could 
go, and they passed by the Alcarias, and by the caves of Anquita, 
and through the waters, and they entered the plain of Torancio, 
and halted between Fariza and Cetina ; great were the spoils 
which they collected as they went along. And on the morrow 
they passed Alfama, and leaving the Gorge below them they 
passed Bobierca, and Teca which is beyond it, and came against 
Alcocer. There my Cid pitched his tents upon a round hill, 
which was a great hill and a strong; and the river Salon ran 
near them, so that the water could not be cut off. My Cid 
thought to take Alcocer ; so he pitched his tents securely, hav- 
ing the Sierra on one side, and the river on the other, and he 
made all his people dig a trench, that they might not be alarm- 
ed, neither by day nor by night. 

When my Cid had thus encamped, he went to look at the 



98 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Alcazar, and see if he could by any means enter it. And the 
Moors offered tribute to him if he would leave them in peace • 
but this he would not do, and he lay before the town. And 
news went through all the land that the Cid was come among" 
them, and they of Calatayud were in fear: And my Cid lay 
before Alcocer fifteen weeks ; and when he saw that the town 
did not surrender, he ordered his people to break up their camp, 
as if they were flying, and they left one of. their tents behind 
them, and took their way along the Salon, with their banners 
spread. And when the Moors saw this they rejoiced greatly,, 
and there was a great stir among them, and they praised them- 
selves for what they had done in withstanding him, and said, 
that the Cid's bread and barley had failed him, and he had fled 
away, and left one of his tents behind him. And they said 
among themselves, Let us pursue them and spoil them, for if 
they of Teruel should be before us the honour and the profit will 
be theirs, and we shall have nothing. And they went out after 
him, great and little, leaving the gates open and shouting as 
they went ; and there was not left in the town a man who 
could bear arms. And when my Cid saw them coming he gave 
orders to quicken their speed, as if he was in fear, and would 
not let his people turn till the Moors were far enough from 
the town. But when he saw that there was a good distance be- 
tween them and the gates, then he bade his banner turn, and 
spurred toward them, crying, Lay on, knights ; by God's mercy 
the spoil is our own. God ! what a good joy was theirs that 
morning ! My Cid's vassals laid on without mercy ; — in one hour, 
and in a little space, three hundred Moors were slain, and the 
Cid and Alvar Fanez had good horses, and got between them 
and the Castle, and stood in the gateway sword in hand, and 
there was a great mortality among the Moors ; and my Cid 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 99 

won the place, and Pero Bermudez planted his banner upon 
the highest point of the Castle. And the Cid said, Blessed be 
God, and all his Saints, we have bettered our quarters both for 
horses and men. And he said to Alvar Fafiez and all his knights, 
Hear me, we shall get nothing by killing these Moors; — let us 
take them and they shall show us their treasures which they 
have hidden in their houses, and we will dwell here, and they 
shall serve us. In this manner did my Cid win Alcocer, and 
take up his abode therein. 

When the King of Valencia, whose name was Alcamin, heard 
this, he was greatly troubled. And incontinently he spake unto 
two Moorish Kings who were his vassals, bidding them take 
three thousand horsemen, and all the men of the border, and 
bring the Cid to him alive, that he might make atonement to> 
him for having entered his land. 

Fariz and Galve were the names of these two Moorish 
Kings, and they set out with the companies of King Alcamin from 
Valencia, and they came up against Alcocer, and pitched their 
tents round about the Castle. Every day their host increased,, 
for their people were many in number, and their watchmen 
kept watch day and night ; and my Cid had no succour to 
look for except the mercy of God, in which he put his trust. 
And the Moors beset them so close that they cut off their 
water, and albeit the Castilians would have sallied against them, 
my Cid forbade this. In this guise were my Cid and his people 
besieged for three weeks, and when the fourth week began, he 
called for Alvar Fafiez, and for his company, and said unto 
them, Ye see that the Moors have cut off our water, and we 
have but little bread; they gather numbers day by day, and 
we become weak, and they are in their own country. If we 
would depart they would not let_ us, and we cannot , go out 



IOO THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

by night because they would beset us round about on all sides, 
and we cannot pass on high through the air, neither through 
the earth which is underneath. Now then if it please you, let 
us go out and fight with them, though they are many in num- 
ber, and either defeat them or die an honourable death. 

Then Minaya answered and said, 
" It is by fighting with the Moors that we have earned our bread, 
In the name of God that made us, let nothing more be said, 
Let us sally forth upon them by the dawn of day." 
The Cid replied, " Minaya, I approve of what you say, 
You have spoken for the best, and had done so without doubt." 
The Moors that were within the town they took and turned them out, 
That none should know their secret ; they laboured all that night, 
They were ready for the combat with the morning light. 
The Cid was in his armour, mounted at their head, 
He spoke aloud among them, you shall hear the words he said : 
" We all must sally forth ! There can not a man be spared, 
Two footmen only at the gates to close them and keep guard ; 
If we are slain in battle, they will bury us in peace ; 
If we survive and conquer, our riches will increase. 
And you, Pero Bermudez, the standard you must bear, 
Advance it like a valiant man, evenly and fair ; 
But do not venture forward before I give command." 
Bermudez took the standard, he went and kissed his hand. 
The gates were then thrown open, and forth at once they rushed, 
The outposts of the Moorish host back to the camp were pushed : 
The camp was all in tumult, and there was such a thunder 
Of cymbals and of drums, as if earth would cleave in sunder. 
Then you might see the Moors arming themselves in haste, 
And the -two main battles how they were forming fast: 
Horsemen and footmen mixed, a countless troop and vast. 






THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. IOI 

The Moors are moving forward, the battle soon must join, 

" My men, stand here in order, ranged upon a line ! 

Let not a man move from his rank before I give the sign." 

Pero Bermudez heard the word, but he could not refrain. 

He held the banner in his hand, he gave his horse his rein ; 

"You see yon foremost squadron there, the thickest of the foes, 

Noble Cid, God be your aid, for there your banner goes ! 

Let him that serves and honours it show the duty that he owes."' 

Earnestly the Cid called out, " For Heaven's sake, be still." 

Bermudez cried, " I cannot hold," so eager was his will. 

He spurred his horse, and drove him on amidst the Moorish 

rout ; 
They strove to win the banner, and compassed him about. 
Had not his armour been so true, he had lost either life or limb ; 
The Cid called out again, " For Heaven's sake, succour him !" 
Their shields before their breasts, forth at once they go, 
Their lances in the rest, levelled fair and low ; 
Their banners and their crests 'waving in a row, 
Their heads all stooping down toward the saddle bow. 
The Cid was in the midst, his shout was heard afar, 
" I am Ruy Diaz, the champion of Bivar ; 
Strike amongst them, gentlemen, for sweet mercy's sake !" 
There, where Bermudez fought, amidst the foe they brake, 
Three hundred bannered knights, it was a gallant show. 
Three hundred Moors they killed, a man with every blow ; 
When they wheeled and turned, as many more lay slain, 
You might see them raise their lances and level them again. 
There you might see the breastplates, how they were cleft in twain, 
And many a Moorish shield lay shattered on the plain. 
The pennons that were white marked with a crimson stain, 
The horses running wild whose riders had been slain. 



102 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

The Christians call upon St. James, the Moors upon Mahound, 

There were thirteen hundred of them slain on a little spot of ground, 

Minaya is dismounted, his courser has been slain, 

He fights upon his feet, and smites with might and main. 

The Cid came all in haste to help him to horse again ; 

He saw a Moor well mounted, thereof he was full fain ; 

Through the girdle at a stroke he cast him to the plain. 

He called to Minaya Fafiez, and reached him out the rein, 

" Mount and ride, Minaya, you are my right hand, 

We shall have need of you to-day, these Moors will not disband !" 

Minaya leapt upon the horse, his sword was in his hand ; 

Nothing that came near him could resist him or withstand; 

All that fall within his reach he dispatches as he goes. 

The Cid rode to King Fariz, and struck at him three blows ; 

The third was far the best, it forced the blood to flow : 

The stream ran from his side, and stained his arms below ; 

The King caught round the rein, and turned his back to go, 

The Cid has won the battle with that single blow. 

And Martin Antolinez the good Burgalese came up to 
King Galve, and gave him a stroke on the head, which scattered 
all the carbuncles out of his helmet, and cut through it even 
to the skin ; and the King did not wait for another such, and 
he fled also. A good day was that for Christendom, for the 
Moors fled on all sides. King Fariz got into Teruel, and King 
Galve fled after him, but they would not receive him within the 
gates, and he went on to Calatayud. And the Christians pur- 
sued them even to Calatayud. And Alvar Fafiez had a good 
horse ; four and thirty did he slay in that pursuit with the edge 
of his keen sword, and his arm was all red, and the blood 
dropped from his elbow. And as he was returning from the 
spoil he said, Now am I well pleased, for good tidings will go 




Alvar Fahez takes the Horses to the King, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 05. 

to Castile, how my Cid has won a battle in the field. My Cid 
also turned back ; his coif was wrinkled, and you might see his 
full beard ; the hood of his mail hung down upon his shoulders, 
and the sword was still in his hand. He saw his people return- 
ing from the pursuit, and that of all his ccmpany fifteen only 
of the lower sort were slain, and he gave thanks to God for 
this victory. Then they fell to the spoil, and they found arms 
in abundance, and great store of wealth ; and five hundred and 
ten horses. And he divided the spoil, giving to each man his 
fair portion, and the Moors whom they had put out of Alcocer 
before the battle, they now received again into the Castle, and 
gave to them also a part of the booty, so that all were well 
content. And my Cid had great joy with his vassals. 

Then the Cid called unto Alvar Fafiez and said, Cousin, you 
are my right hand, and I hold it good that you should take 
of my fifth as much as you will, for all would be well bestowed 
upon you ; but Minaya thanked him, and said, that he would 
take nothing more than his share. And the Cid said unto him> 
I will send King Don Alfonso a present from my part of the 
spoils. You shall go into Castile, and take with you thirty 
horses, the best which were taken from the Moors, all bridled 
and saddled, and each having a sword hanging from the saddle- 
bow ; and you shall give them to the King, and kiss his hand 
for me, and tell him that we know how to make our way 
among the Moors. And you shall take also this bag of gold 
and silver, and purchase for me a thousand masses in St. Mary's 
at Burgos, and hang up there these banners of the Moorish Kings 
whom we have overcome. Go then to St. Pedro's at Cardena, 
and salute my wife Dona Ximena, and my daughters, and tell 
them how well I go on, and that if I live I will make them 
rich women. And salute for me the Abbot Don Sisebuto, and 



106 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

give him fifty marks of silver; and the rest of the money, 
whatever shall be left, give to my wife, and bid them all pray 
for me. Moreover the Cid said unto him, This country is all 
spoiled, and we have to help ourselves with sword and spear. 
You are going to gentle Castile ; if when you return you should 
not find us here, you will hear where we are. 

Alvar Fanez went his way to Castile, and he found the 
King in Valladolid, and he presented to him the thirty horses, 
with all their trappings, and swords mounted with silver hanging 
from the saddle-bows. And when the King saw them, before 
Alvar Fanez could deliver his bidding, he said unto him, 
Minaya, who sends me this goodly present ? and Minaya an- 
swered, My Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador, sends it, and kisses 
by me your hands. For since you were wroth against him, and 
banished him from the land, he being a man disherited, hath 
helped himself with his own hands, and hath won from the 
Moors the Castle of Alcocer. And the King of Valencia sent 
two Kings to besiege him there, with all his power, and they 
begirt him round about, and cut off the water and bread from 
us so that we could not subsist. And then holding it better to 
die like good men in the field, than shut up like bad ones, we 
went out against them, and fought with them in the open field, 
and smote them and put them to flight ; and both the Moorish 
Kings were sorely wounded, and many of the Moors were slain, 
and many were taken prisoners, and great was the spoil which 
we won in the field, both of captives and of horses and arms, 
gold and silver and pearls, so that all who are with him are 
rich men. And of his fifth of the horses which were taken that 
day, my Cid hath sent you these, as to his natural Lord, whose 
favour he desireth. I beseech you, as God shall help you, show 
favour unto him. Then King Don Alfonso answered, This is be- 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. IOJ 

times in the morning for a banished man to ask favour of his 
Lord ; nor is it befitting a King, for no Lord ought to be wroth 
for so short a time. Nevertheless, because the horses were won 
from the Moors, I will take them, and rejoice that my Cid 
hath sped so well. And I pardon you, Minaya, and give again 
unto you all the lands which you have ever held of me, and 
you have my favour to go when you will, and come when you 
will. Of the Cid Campeador, I shall say nothing now, save only 
that all who choose to follow him may freely go, and their 
bodies and goods and heritages are safe. And Minaya said, 
God grant you many and happy years for his service. Now 
I beseech you, this which you have done for me, do also to 
all those who are in my Cid's company, and show favour unto 
them also, that their possessions may be restored unto them. 
And the King gave order that it should be so. Then Minaya 
kissed the King's hand and said, Sir, you have done this now, 
and you will do the rest hereafter. 

My Cid remained awhile in Alcocer, and the Moors of 
the border waited to see what he would do. And in this 
time King Fariz got well of his wound, and my Cid sent to 
him and to the Moors, saying, that if they would give him 
three thousand marks of silver, he would leave Alcocer and 
go elsewhere. And King Fariz and the Moors of Techa, and of 
Teruel, and of Calatayud, were right glad of this, and the cov- 
enant was put in writing, and they sent him the three thousand 
marks. And my Cid divided it among his company, and he 
made them all rich, both knights and esquires and footmen, 
so that they said to one another, He who serves a good Lord, 
happy man is his dole. But the Moors of Alcocer were full 
sorry to see him depart, because he had been to them a kind 
master and a bountiful ; and they said unto him, Wherever 



IOB THE CHRONICLE OK THE CID. 

you go, Cid, our prayers will go before you : and they wept 
both men and women when my Cid went his way. So the 
Campeador raised his banner and departed, and he went down 
the Salon, and crossed it ; and as he crossed the river they 
saw good birds, and signs of good fortune. And they of Za 
and of Calatayud were well pleased, because he went from them. 
My Cid rode on till he came to the knoll above Monte-Real; 
it is a high hill and strong, and there he pitched his tents, 
being sa fe on all sides. And from thence he did much harm 
to the Moors of Medina and of the country round about; 
and he made Daroca pay tribute, and Molina also, which is on 
the other side, and Teruel also. 

Ever after was that knoll called the Knoll of the Cid. 
And when the Perfect one had waited a long time for Minaya 
and saw that he did not come, he removed by night, and 
passed by Teruel and pitched his camp in the pine-forest of 
Tebar. And from thence he infested the Moors of Zaragoza, 
insomuch that they held it best to give him gold and silver 
and pay him tribute. And when this covenant had been made, 
Almudafar, the King of Zaragoza, became greatly his friend, and 
received him full honourably into the town. In three weeks' time 
after this came Alvar Fanez from Castile. Two hundred men 
of lineage came with him, every one of whom wore a sword 
girt to his side, and the foot-soldiers in their company were 
out of number. When my Cid saw Minaya he rode up to him, 
and embraced him without speaking, and kissed his mouth and 
the eyes in his head. And Minaya told him all that he had 
done. And the face of the Campeador brightened, and he gave 
thanks to God and said, It will go well with me, Minaya, 
as long as you live ! God, how joyful was that whole host 
because Alvar Fanez was returned ! for he brought them greet- 




The Cid enters the Pine-forest of Tebar. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



Ill 



ings from their kinswomen and their brethren, and the fair 
'comrades whom they had left behind. God, how joyful was 
my Cid with the fleecy beard, that Minaya had purchased the 
thousand masses, and had brought him the biddings of his wife 
and daughters ! God, what a joyful man was he ! 





Q?' THE CID TAKES VALENCIA FOR 

HIMSELF. 

Valencia fell in the year JOQ4, thirteen years after the Cid had been banished 
by Alfonso — These thirteen years had been passed by the Cid in battles with 
the Moors and others, that culminated in the great achievement of his life, the 
capture of Valencia — At the time our chapter begins, the siege had been in 
progress for some time, and the beleaguered Moors were looking for help to 
the Almoravides, a new horde of warlike fanatics who had swept over from 
Africa into Spain, to reinforce their Mohammedan brethren, a?id who were every- 
where striking terror and gaining victories over the Christians. 

Now came true tidings that the host of the Almoravides 
was nigh unto Xativa ; and the people of Valencia were glad 
and rejoiced, for they thought that they were now delivered 
from their great misery, and from the oppression of the Cid. 
And after he heard these tidings he gave order to break down 
the bridges and open the sluices, that the plain might be 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. II3 

flooded, so that they could only come by one way, which was 
a narrow pass. Tidings now came that the host of the Almo- 
ravides was at Algezira de Xucar, and the joy of the people of 
Valencia increased, and they went upon the walls and upon the 
towers to see. them come. And when night came they remained 
still upon the walls, for it was dark, and they saw the great 
fires of the camp of the Almoravides, which they had pitched 
near unto a place called Bacer; and they began to pray unto 
God, beseeching him to give them good speed against the Chris- 
tians, and they resolved as soon as the Almoravides were engaged 
in battle with the Cid, that they would issue forth and plunder 
his tents. But our Lord Jesus Christ was not pleased that it 
should be so, and he ordered it after another guise; for he 
sent such a rain that night, with such a wind and flood as no 
man living remembered, and when it was day the people of Va- 
lencia looked from the wall to see the banners of the Almorav. 
ides and the place where they had encamped, and behold they 
could see nothing : and they were full sorrowful, and knew not 
what they should do, and they remained in such state as a wom- 
an in her time of childing, till the hour of tierce, and then came 
tidings that the Almoravides had turned back, and would not 
come unto Valencia. For the rains and floods had dismayed 
them, and they thought the waters would have swept them away, 
and that the hand of God was against them, and therefore they 
turned back. And when the people of Valencia heard this they 
held themselves for dead men, and they wandered about the streets 
like drunkards, so that a man knew not his neighbour, and they 
smeared their faces with black like unto pitch, and they lost 
all thought like one who falls into the waves of the sea. And 
then the Christians drew nigh unto the walls, crying out unto 
the Moors with a loud voice like -thunder, calling them false 



114 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

traitors and reneg'ados, and saying, Give up the town to the Cid 
Ruydiez, for ye cannot escape from him. And the Moors were 
silent, and made no reply because of their great misery. 

Then Abenalfarax, a Moor of Valencia, he who wrote this 
history in Arabic, took account of the food which was in the 
city, to see how long it could hold out. And he says that the 
cafiz* of wheat was valued at eleven maravedis, and the cafiz 
of barley at seven maravedis, and that of pulse or other grain 
at six ; and the arroba. of honey at fifteen diner os, and the 
arroba of carobs the third of a maravedi, and the arroba of 
onions two thirds of a maravedi, and the arroba of cheese two 
maravedis and a half, and the measure of oil which the Moors 
call maron, a maravedi, and the quintal of figs five maravedis, 
and the pound of mutton six dineros of silver, and the pound 
of beef four. These maravedis were silver ones, for no other 
money was current among them. The Moors who dwelt in the 
suburbs carried all the best of their goods into the city, and the 
rest they buried. And when the Cid was certain that the Almo- 
ravides were not coming, he gave order to spoil the suburbs, and 
the Moors fled into the city with their wives and children. And 
when the Christians began to plunder the suburbs, they of the 
town came out and plundered also those houses which were 
nearest unto the walls, so that everything was carried away and 
nothing but the timbers left : and then the Christians took that 
to build them lodgments in the camp ; and when the Moors 
saw this they came out, and carried away what timber they 
could into the city. And the Christians pulled down all the 
houses, save only such as could be defended with arrows, and 
these which they dared not pull down they set fire to by night* 
And when all the houses had been levelled they began to dig 

* See Appendix, Note I. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 115 

in the foundations, and they found great wealth there, and store 
of garments, and hoards of wheat ; and when the Cid saw this 
he ordered them to dig everywhere, so that nothing might be 
lost. And when all had been dug up the Cid drew nearer to 
the city, and girt it round about, and there was fighting every 
day at the barriers, for the Moors came out and fought hand to 
hand, and many a sword-stroke was given and many a push 
with the spear. While the Moors were thus beleaguered came 
letters from the Captain of the Almoravides, saying that he 
had not turned back to Alerezira de Xucar for fear, nor for 
cowardice, neither as one who fled, but for lack of food, and 
also by reason of the waters ; and that it was his set purpose 
at all events to succour them and deliver them from the op- 
pression which they endured, and he was preparing to do this 
with all diligence. And he bade them take courage, and main- 
tain the city. And when the Moors of Valencia heard these, 
letters they took heart. 

Then the Cid drew nearer to the walls, so that no man 
could either enter in or issue out, but whosoever attempted it 
was either slain or taken. 

Now came true tidings from Denia that the Almoravides had 
returned into their own country, and that there was no hope of 
succour at their hands. And when they of Valencia heard this 
they were greatly troubled. And they who held the Castles round 
about came humbly to the Cid, to place their love upon him, 
and besought him that he would accept tribute from them, and 
have them under his protection ; and he gave orders that they 
might travel the roads in peace : and in this manner his rents 
increased, so that he had plenty to give. And he sent to them 
who held the Castles, bidding them provide him with cross-bow 
men, and foot-soldiers, to fight against the city ; and there was 



n6 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



none who dare disobey his bidding, and they sent him cross- 
bow men and foot-men in great numbers, with their arms and 
provisions. Thus was Valencia left desolate, and forsaken by 
all the Moorish people ; and it was attacked every day, and 







A Moor of Valencia. 



none could enter in, neither could any come out ; and they 
were sore distressed, and the waves of death compassed them 
round about. 

Then the men of Valencia made Abeniaf their Adelantado, 
and promised to abide by his counsel ; howbeit this could not 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. llj 

lightly be done, for many of the people held with others. And 
when Abeniaf saw that they would have him for their chief, 
he said that they should make a writing, and the chief per- 
sons of the town confirm it with their names; and the peo- 
ple accorded that it should be so, and it was done accord- 
ingly. 

And the Cid made war afresh upon the city as cruelly 
as he could, and the price of bread was now three times as 
great as it had been at the beginning; the load of wheat was 
worth an hundred maravedis of silver, and the pound of flesh 
was a maravedi. And the Cid drew nigh unto the walls, so 
as to fight hand to hand with the townsmen. And Abeniaf 
waxed proud and despised the people, and when any went to 
make complaint before him, and ask justice at his hands, he 
dishonoured them, and they were evil entreated by him. And 
he was like a King, retired apart, and troubadours and glee- 
men and masters disported before him which could do the best, 
and he took his pleasure. And they of the town were in great 
misery, from the Christians who warred upon them from 
without, and the famine whereof they died within. Moreover 
Abeniaf oppressed them greatly, and he took unto himself all 
the goods of those who died, and he made all persons equal, 
the good and the bad, and took from all all that he could; 
and those who gave him nothing he ordered to be tormented 
with stripes, and cast into rigorous prisons, till he could get 
something from them. And he had respect neither for kins- 
man nor friend. There was but one measure for all, and men 
cared nothing now for their possessions, so that the sellers were 
many and the buyers none. And with all these miseries the 
price of food became exceeding great. And they were so weak 
with hunger that the Christians came to the walls and- threw 



I 1 8 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

stones in with the hand, and there was none who had strength 
to drive them back. 

And the Cid having it at heart to take the town, let 
make an engine, and placed it at one of the gates, and it 
did great hurt both to the walls and within the town ; and 
the Moors made other engines, with the which they brake 
that of the Cid. And the Cid in his anger let make three 
engines, and placed them at the three gates of the town, and 
they did marvellous great hurt. And food waxed dearer every 
day, till at last dear nor cheap it was not to be had, and 
there was a great mortality for famine ; and they ate dogs and 
cats and mice. And they opened the vaults and sewers of 
the town, and took out the stones of the grapes which they 
had eaten, and washed them, and ate them. And they who 
had horses fed upon them. And many men, and many women, 
and many children watched when the gates were open, and 
went out and gave themselves into the hands of the Chris- 
tians, who slew some, and took others and sold them to the 
Moors in Alcudia; and the price of a Moor was a loaf and 
a pitcher of wine : and when they gave them food and they 
took their fill, they died. Them that were stronger they sold 
to merchants who came there by sea from all parts. And the 
Moors of Alcudia, and of the town which the Cid had made 
there, had plenty of all things, and as great as was their abun- 
dance, even so great was the misery of those in the town : 
and they spake the verse which sayeth, If I go to the right 
the water will destroy me, and if I go to the left the lion will 
kill me, and if I turn back there is the fire. 

Now the Moors of Valencia being in this great misery 
because of the siege which the Cid laid unto the town, Abeniaf 
bethought him that he would send a messenger to the King 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE C1D. II9 

of Zaragoza, and beseech him to come to his succour, even as he 
had succoured the grandson of Alimaymon, when the Lord of Denia 
and Tortosa came against him. And the good men of the town 
took counsel whether they should say in these letters, To you 
the King, or whether they should humble themselves before 
him and call him Lord ; and they debated upon this for three 
days, and agreed that they would call him Lord, that he might 
have the more compassion upon them. And though Abeniaf 
was troubled at heart at this determination, nevertheless he said 
in the letter as they had appointed. And he called a Moor 
who spake the mixed language, and instructed him how to get 
out of the city by night, so that the Christians might not see 
him, and told him that when he had given that letter to the 
King of Zaragoza, the King would give him garments, and a 
horse, and a mule to ride on, and that he himself would show 
favour unto him as long as he lived. So the messenger departed 
with the letter. 

When the King of Zaragoza saw the letter which Abeniaf 
and the men of Valencia had sent him, he gave no heed to it, 
neither cared he for the messenger, neither did he give him even 
a draught of water for his reward. And the messenger waited 
for his answer from day to day for three weeks, and he dared not 
depart without it for fear lest Abeniaf should slay him ; and he 
thought also that some of the King's people would come out 
after him and slay him upon the way : and he was urgent for 
his answer, and began at last to cry aloud at the gate of the 
King's house, so that the King asked of what that messenger 
was making his complaint. Then they told the King that he 
wanted his answer that he might be gone. And the King wrote 
an answer, and said, that this aid which they besought of him he 
could not give till he had sent to ask help of King Don Alfonso 



120 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

of Castile, for he could not else venture to do battle with the 
Cid. And he exhorted them to defend themselves the best they 
could while he procured horsemen from King Don Alfonso to 
help them, and that they should from time to time send him word 
how they went on. So the messenger returned in great sorrow 
that he had sped no better, and that nothing had been given him 
as Abeniaf had promised : and all this which the King of Zaragoza 
said was only delay, and meant nothing. And the famine now 
waxed so great that there was no food to sell, and many died 
of hunger. And many for great misery went out to the Christians, 
recking not whether they should be made captive, or slain, for 
they thought it better to be slain than to perish for lack of food. 
And Abeniaf searched all the houses in the town for food, and 
where he found any store, he left only what would suffice for 
a fortnight, and took the rest, saying that in that time the King 
of Zaragoza would come and relieve them, for that he only tarried 
to collect great store of food, that he might bring it with him. 
This he said to keep the people quiet, and to encourage them. 
And of the food which he carried away, he took the most part 
for himself and for his guards, and the rest he ordered to be sold 
in such manner that none should buy more than would suffice 
him for the day. And .what he took he did not pay for, and 
when the people demanded payment he put them off till another 
day ; and he bade them not complain, for they would be relieved 
from this misery, and then he would pay them well. And they 
who had any food left buried it for fear, and for this reason 
there was none to be bought, neither dear nor cheap. And they 
who had nothing else, ate herbs, and leather, and electuaries from 
the apothecaries which they bought at a great price, and the poor 
ate the dead bodies. 

Then the Cid began to treat with a great Moor of the town, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 121 

named Abenmoxiz, that he should rise up against Abeniaf, and 
kill him or deliver him into his hands, and that he would make 
him Lord over Valencia, and the country as far as Denia. And 
Abenmoxiz took counsel with his friends, and they advised him 
that he should do this ; but Abeniaf knew of their counsel, and 
took them, and put them in prison, and gave them in charge to 
two of his household in whom he had great trust. And Aben- 
moxiz talked with his keepers, and told them all that he purposed 
to do, and promised them, if they would release him, to reward 
them greatly when he had succeeded, saying, that he undertook 
this with the consent and advice of the King of Zaragoza ; so 
they were persuaded and promised to join with him. And when 
it was night Abenmoxiz and his friends and the two keepers 
agreed to seize the Alcazar, which was the place wherein they 
were imprisoned, and to beat the alarm, and raise a cry for the 
King of Zaragoza; and they thought the men of the town would 
join with them, and then they would go to the house of Abeniaf 
and lay hands on him. And they did accordingly, and beat a 
drum, and sent a crier upon the tower of the Mosque to bid 
all the people assemble at the Alcazar. And when the people 
heard the drum and that crier they were in great fear, and knew 
not what to think ; and they assembled some to guard their 
own houses, other some to guard the tower, till they knew what 
it was. And when Abeniaf heard it, he was greatly dismayed, 
and he asked of all whom he found at his gates, what the uproar 
was, and what this thing might be. In short time all they who 
were on his side, both horse and foot, assembled together, and 
then they knew what it was ; and he bade them go to the 
Alcazar and take Abenmoxiz, and all that held with him. Aben- 
moxiz this while was at the gate of the Alcazar with his little 
company, thinking that the whole town would join him ; and 



122 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

behold Abeniafs company came up and charged him ; and he 
thought to defend himself with the few that were with him, but 
the most part fled, and he with four others were taken ; and they 
led them with great shame to the house of Abeniaf, who sent 
him to prison, and gave orders to smite off the heads of the 
others. And Abeniaf sent to lay hands on all whom he suspected, 
and took from them all that they had. And he sent messengers 
to the King of Zaragoza to tell him what had chanced, and they 
took with them Abenmoxiz prisoner, and they were charged to 
remain at Zaragoza, and send him true tidings from thence. 

Now there was no food to be bought in the city, and 
the people were in the waves of death : and men were seen 
to drop and die in the streets, and the Place of the Alcazar 
round about the walls thereof was full of graves, and there 
was no grave which had fewer than ten bodies in it. As many 
as could fled out of the town, and delivered themselves up to 
the Christians to be made prisoners. The Cid thought that 
they who were the Chiefs within the walls, thrust out the 
poor and feeble, that they might be able to hold out longer ; 
and it troubled him, for he thought to take the town by starv- 
ing it, and he feared the coming of the Almoravides. Some- 
times it troubled him, and at other times he seemed pleased 
that the Moors should come out and give themselves prisoners 
to his people. Now it befell that once, at such time as it 
seemed to please him, some of the chief men of the town 
came out in this manner, and counselled him that he should 
attack it, for they said the men at arms were few, and weak 
for hunger, and that he might presently win it : and the Cid 
took thought upon this matter and resolved to do as they said ; 
and he gathered together his host and advanced against the 
gate which is called Belfanhanes, that is to say, the Gate of 




"And threw down stones from the gate 
so that none fell in vain. " 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 25 

the Snake, and they drew nigh unto the wall. And all the 
people of the town assembled, even all the force which was 
therein, and threw down stones from the gate and from the 
wall, and shot their arrows, so that neither stone nor arrow fell 
in vain ; and the Cid and they who had advanced with him 
went into a bath which was near the wall, to be under cover 
from the arrows. And Abeniafs company opened the gate and 
sallied out, seeing that the stones and arrows from the wall 
had hurt many, and made the Christians draw back ; and the 
Cid and they who were with him remained in the bath, being 
shut up there, for they could not go out by the door whereat 
they had entered, and they broke through the wall on the 
other side, and the Cid escaped that way, being thus put to 
rout. Then he thought himself ill-advised in having attacked 
the town, and in putting himself into a place from whence he 
had escaped with such great danger ; and he held that the 
worst war which he could make upon the men of Valencia 
was to let them die of hunger. So he ordered proclamation 
to be made so loud that all the Moors upon the walls could 
hear, bidding all who had come out from the town to return 
into it, or he would burn as many as he should find ; and 
saying also that he would slay all who came out from that 
time forth. Nevertheless they continued to let themselves down 
from the walls, and the Christians took them without his knowl- 
edge. They who could hide any sent them away by sea and 
by land to be sold ; the most whom they sent were young 
men and girls, for others they would not take. This continued 
for two months, till there were only four beasts left in the 
town, and one was a mule of Abeniafs, and another was a 
horse of his son's ; and the people were so wasted that there 
were but few who had strength to- mount the wall. 



126 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CIL). 

The company of Abeniaf and of his kinsmen despaired 
now of holding out, and of the help of the King of Zaragoza, 
or of the Almoravides, and they desired rather to die than 
endure this misery. And the good men of the city, as many 
as were left, went to an Alfaqui, who was' a good man, and 
one who was held in great esteem, and besought him to give 
them counsel, for he saw their great distress, and how they 
were out of all hope of succour ; and they besought him that 
he would go to Abeniaf, and know of him what he thought 
to do, or what hope he had, that he let them all perish thus. 
The Alfaqui gave ear to them, and said that if they would 
all hold together, and be of one heart, and show great anger 
at having been brought to this misery, he would do all he 
could to relieve them ; and they promised to do whatever he 
should advise. Now Abeniaf knew of the talk which the good 
men of the town had had with the Alafqui, and understood 
that it was because of the great misery which they endured ; 
and he thought in his heart that he would humble himself, 
and do whatever his people should think good. And the Al- 
faqui thought that happy man was his dole now that the 
people had committed themselves to his guidage, and he went 
to Abeniaf and communed with him, and their accord was to 
give up all hope of succour. And Abeniaf put himself in the 
hands of the Alfaqui, that he should go between him and the 
Cid and the people of Valencia, and make the best terms for 
them that he could, seeing that they could no longer hold 
out, and maintain the town. 

Here the history relates that at this time Martin Pelaez 
the Asturian came with a convoy of laden beasts, carrying 
provisions to the host of the Cid ; and as he passed near the 
town the Moors sallied out in great numbers against him ; 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. \2J 

but he, though he had few with him, defended the convoy 
right well, and did great hurt to the Moors, slaying many of 
them, and drove them into the town. This Martin Pelaez 
who is here spoken of, did the Cid make a right good knight,, 
of a coward, as ye shall hear. When the Cid first began to- 
lay siege to the city of Valencia, this Martin Pelaez came 
unto him ; he was a knight, a native of Santillana in Asturias,. 
a hidalgo, great of body and strong of limb, a well-made man 
and of goodly semblance, but withal a right coward at heart, 
which he had shown in many places when he was among feats 
of arms. And the Cid was sorry when he came unto him, 
though he would not let him perceive this ; for he knew he 
was not fit to be of his company. Howbeit he thought that 
since he was come he would make him brave whether he 
would or not. And when the Cid began to war upon the 
town, and sent parties against it twice and thrice a day, as ye 
have heard, for the Cid was alway upon the alert, there was. 
fighting and tourneying every day. One day it fell out that 
the Cid and his kinsmen and friends and vassals were eneao-ed 
in a great encounter, and this Martin Pelaez, was well armed; 
and when he saw that the Moors and Christians were at it, 
he fled and betook himself to his lodging, and there hid him- 
self till the Cid returned to dinner. And the Cid saw what 
Martin Pelaez did, and when he had conquered the Moors he 
returned to his lodging to dinner. Now it was the custom of 
the Cid to eat at a high table, seated on his bench, at the 
head. And Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and other 
precious knights, ate in another part, at high tables, full hon- 
ourably, and none other knights whatsoever dared take their 
seats with them, unless they were such as deserved to" be 
there ; and the others who were not so approved in arms ate 



128 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

upon estrados, at tables with cushions. This was the order in 
the house of the Cid, and every one knew the place where 
he was to sit at meat, and every one strove all he could to 
gain the honour of sitting to eat at the table of Don Alvar 
Fanez and his companions, by strenuously behaving himself in 
all feats of arms ; and thus the honour of the Cid was ad- 
vanced. This Martin Pelaez, thinking that none had seen his 
badness, washed his hands in turn with the other knights, and 
would have taken his place among them. And the Cid went 
unto him, and took him by the hand and said, You are not 
such a one as deserves to sit with these, for they are worth 
more than you or than me ; but I will have you with me : 
and he seated him with himself at table. And he, for lack 
of understanding, thought that the Cid did this to honour him 
above all the others. On the morrow the Cid and his com- 
pany rode toward Valencia, and the Moors came out to the 
tourney ; and Martin Pelaez went out well armed, and was 
among the foremost who charged the Moors, and when he 
was in among them he turned the reins, and went back to 
his lodging ; and the Cid took heed to all that he did, and 
saw that though he had done badly he had done better than the 
first day. And when the Cid had driven the Moors into the 
town he returned to his lodging, and as he sat down to meat 
he took this Martin Pelaez by the hand, and seated him with 
himself, and bade him eat with him in the same dish, for he 
had deserved more that day than he had the first. And the 
knight gave heed to that saying and was abashed ; howbeit he 
did as the Cid commanded him : and after he had dined he 
went to his lodging and began to think upon what the Cid 
had said unto him, and perceived that he had seen all the 
baseness which he had done ; and then he understood that for 




Martin Prfacz dines with the Cid. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 131 

this cauie he would not let him sit at board with the other 
knights who were precious in arms, but had seated him with 
himself, more to affront him than to do him honour, for there 
were other knights there better than he, and he did not show 
them that honour. Then resolved he in his heart to do better 
than he had done heretofore. Another day the Cid and his 
company and Martin Pelaez rode toward Valencia, and the 
Moors came out to the tourney full resolutely, and Martin 
Pelaez was among the first, and charged them right boldly ; 
and he smote down and slew presently a good knight, and 
he lost there all the bad fear which he had had, and was 
that day one of the best knights there : and as long as the 
tourney lasted, there he remained, smiting and slaying and over- 
throwing the Moors, till they were driven within the gates, in 
such manner that the Moors marvelled at him, and asked 
where that Devil came from, for they had never seen him be- 
fore. And the Cid was in a place where he could see all that 
was going on, and he gave good heed to him, and had great 
pleasure in beholding him, to see how well he had forgotten 
the great fear which he was wont to have. And when the 
Moors were shut up within the town, the Cid and all his 
people returned to their lodging, and Martin Pelaez full leisure- 
ly and quietly went to his lodging also, like a good knight. 
And when it was the hour of eating, the Cid waited for 
Martin Pelaez, and when he came,_ and they had washed, the 
Cid took him by the hand and said, My friend, you are not 
such a one as deserves to sit with me from henceforth, but 
sit you here with Don Alvar Fanez, and with these other 
good knights, for the good feats which you have done this 
day have made you a companion for them ; and from that day 
forward he was placed in the company of the good. And the 



I32 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

history said that from that day forward this knight Martin 
Pelaez was a right good one, and a right valiant, and a right 
precious, in all places where he chanced among feats of arms, 
and he lived alway with the Cid, and served him right well 
and truly. And the history saith, that after the Cid had won 
the city of Valencia, on the day when they conquered and dis- 
comfited the King of Seville, this Martin Pelaez was so good 
a one, that setting aside the body of the Cid himself, there 
was no such good knight there, nor one who bore such part,, 
as well in the battle as in the pursuit. And so great was the 
mortality which he made among the Moors that day, that when 
he returned from the business the sleeves of his mail were 
clotted with blood, up to the elbow ; insomuch that for what 
he did that day his name is written in this history, that it 
may never die. And when the Cid saw him come in that 
guise, he did him great honour, such as he never had done to 
any knight before that day, and from thenceforward gave him 
a place in all his actions and in all his secrets, and he was 
his great friend. In this knight Martin Pelaez was fulfilled 
the example which saith, that he who betaketh himself to a 
good tree, hath good shade, and he who serves a good Lord 
winneth good guerdon ; for by reason of the good service which 
he did the Cid, he came to such good state that he was 
spoken of as ye have heard : for the Cid knew how to make 
a good knight, as a good groom knows how to make a good 
horse. The history now leaves to speak of him, and returns 
to the accord of the Alfaqui and Abeniaf, which they pro- 
pounded unto the Cid. 

This Alfaqui sent his messengers to an Almoxarife of the 
Cid whose name was Abdalla Adiz, who was a good man and 
one whom the Cid loved, and who never left him after he had 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 33 

obtained his favour. And when Abdalla Adiz heard that they 
wished to propose terms, he spake with the Cid upon this 
matter, and the Cid bade him enter the town, and speak with 
them, and know of them what they would have. And he went 
into the town, and spake with them as the Cid had commanded, 
and came out again, and reported unto him what they had said, 
till he had made terms between them. Abeniaf sent three good 
men with him to confirm the terms which were made, and the 
covenant was after this manner, that they of Valencia should 
send messengers to the King of Zaragoza, and to Ali Abenaxa 
who was Adelantado of the Almoravides and Lord of Murcia, 
beseeching them to succour them within fifteen days ; and if 
within that time they were not succoured they should then give 
up the city to the Cid. 

Presently on the morrow they sent five good men as messen- 
gers to the King of Zaragoza, and as many more to Murcia ; and 
it had been covenanted that neither of these messengers should 
take with him more than fifty maravedis for his journey, and 
that they should go by sea as far as Denia, in a ship of the 
Christians, and from thence by land. These messengers embarked 
with their company on board that ship, and the Cid sent orders 
to the master thereof not to sail till he came ; and the Cid came 
himself in his own body and bade them search the messengers 
to see if they took with them more than had been agreed ; and 
he found upon them great riches in gold and in silver and in 
pearls and in precious stones ; part was their own, and part 
belonged to other merchants in the city, who thought to send 
it to Murcia, not being minded to abide in Valencia : and he 
took it all, leaving them no more than fifty maravedis each, 
according to the covenant. 

The Moors of Valencia were now something comforted, for 



134 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

they weened that they should receive help, and the Christians 
did not now war upon them ; nevertheless they kept guard, and 
went the rounds, as before, and waited for the day appointed, 
as one who looked to be released from prison. And for this 
reason men began to bring out the food which they had hidden, 
and to sell ^of it, and thus they went on till the time expired, 
and the messengers were not returned. And Abeniaf besought 
them that they would wait yet three days more, but they made 
answer that they would not, for they could bear it no longer. 
And the Cid sent unto them bidding them yield up the town, 
as they had covenanted to do ; and he swore with great oaths, 
that if they delayed a single hour after the time was expired, he 
would -not keep the terms which he had made, and moreover 
that he would slay the hostages ; nevertheless they let a day 
pass over and above the term. And then they who made the 
covenant with the Cid went out unto him and besought him 
to come and receive the town, but the Cid said wrathfully to 
them that he was not bound to keep the terms, seeing they had 
let the time appointed pass ; and they yielded themselves into 
his hands that he should do with them according to his pleasure ; 
then he was moved to compassion, and had pity upon them. 
And Abeniaf and other good men came out, and the writings 
were made and were confirmed on both sides, by the Chiefs of 
the Christians and of the Moors, and the gates were opened 
at the hour of noon, upon Thursday the last day of June, 
after the feast of St. John, which the Moors call Alhazaro. And 
when the gate was opened, Abeniaf was there within, with 
a great company round about him, both of his own people 
and of those of the town; and the Christians as they entered 
ascended the walls and towers. And Abeniaf asked why so many 
went up, for it was not in the terms ; but they would not 




The Cid enters Valencia zvith a great Company. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 137 

cease for that, and they took possession of all, little to his 
liking. 

And all the people of the town gathered together, like men 
risen from their graves, . . yea, like the dead when the trumpet 
shall sound for the day of judgment, and men shall come out 
of their graves and be gathered together before the Majesty 
of God. And hucksters came from Alcudia and brought bread 
and pulse to sell, and others of the town went out to Alcudia 
to buy food ; and they who were poor, and had not wherewith to 
buy, plucked of the herbs of the field and ate them, and they 
held themselves rich because they could go out when they would, 
and enter in again without fear. And such as were wise among 
them abstained from taking much food, fearing what would 
happen, and they took it little by little till they had gotten 
strength ; all they who took their fill died, and the mortality 
among them was so great that all the fields were full of graves. 

On the following day after the Christians had taken pos- 
session of the town, the Cid entered it with a great company, 
and he ascended the highest tower of the wall, and beheld all 
the city; and the Moors came unto him, and kissed his hand, 
saying he was welcome. And the Cid did great honour unto 
them. And then he gave order that all the windows of the 
towers which looked in upon the town should be closed up, that 
the Christians might not see what the Moors did in their houses; 
and the Moors thanked him for this greatly. And he commanded 
and requested the Christians that they should show great honour 
to the Moors, and respect them, and greet them when they 
met : and the Moors thanked the Cid greatly for the honour 
which the Christians did them, saying that thev had never seen 
so good a man, nor one so honourable, nor one who had his 
people under such obedience. 




. The Cid takes measures to prevent his followers from 
leaving him — Don Hieronymo, that good one with 
the shaven crown, comes from the parts of the 
East and is made Bishop of Valencia — The Cid sends for his wife and 
daughters, who arrive in great state — King Yucef of Morocco, comes 
against Valencia with fifty thousand Moors, but is routed with great 
slaughter. 



Now was it bruited abroad throughout all lands, how the 
Cid Ruydiez had won the noble city of Valencia. And when 
Ali Abenaxa the Adelantado of the Almoravides knew it, he 
sent his son-in-law the King of Seville to besiege Jhim in Va- 
lencia, and gave him thirty thousand men at arms. And this 
King came in great haste to Valencia, and besieged the Cid 
therein. And the Cid made ready with all his people, and 
went out to fight him. And the battle was nigh unto Va- 
lencia, beside the garden which is called the Garden of Villa 
Nueva ; and it was a good battle, and at length he of the 
good fortune conquered ; and the pursuit continued as far as 
Xativa ; even so far did the Christians pursue them, smiting 
and slaying. And at the passage of the Xucar there might 
you have seen confusion, and there the Moors without liking 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 39 

it drank plenty of water. They say that fifteen thousand 
Moors died in the river ; and the King of Seville fled with 
three great blows. This day did Martin Pelaez the Asturian 
approve himself a right good one : there was no knight so 
good that day in arms as he, nor who bore away such honour. 
And when the pursuit was ended the Cid returned to the field 
of battle, and ordered the spoils of the field and of the tents 
to be collected. Be it known that this was a profitable day's 
work. Every foot soldier shared a hundred marks of silver 
that day. And the Cid returned full honourably to Valencia. 
Great was the joy of the Christians in the Cid Ruydiez, he 
who was born in a good hour. His beard was grown, and 
continued to grow a great length. My Cid said of his chin, 
For the love of King Don Alfonso, who hath banished me 
from his land, no scissors shall come upon it, nor shall a hair 
be cut away, and Moors and Christians shall talk of it. 

That night the Cid took counsel with Alvar Fafiez, who de- 
parted not from his side, and with the other honourable men 
who were of his counsel, concerning what should be done : for 
now that his people were all rich, he feared lest they should 
return into their own country, for my Cid saw that if they 
might go they would. And Minaya advised him that he should 
cause proclamation to be made through the city, that no man 
should depart without permission of the Cid, and if any one 
went who had not dispeeded himself and kissed his hand, if 
he were overtaken he should lose all that he had, and more- 
over be fixed upon a stake. And that they might be the 
more certain, he said unto Minaya that he would take account 
of all the people who were with him, both horsemen and foot, 
and Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez made the roll ; and 
there were found a thousand knights of lineage, and five hun- 



I4O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

dred and fifty other horsemen, and of foot-soldiers four thou- 
sand, besides boys and others ; thus many were the people of 
my Cid, he of Bivar. And his heart rejoiced, and he smiled 
and said, Thanks be to God, Minaya, and to Holy Mary 
Mother! . . . we had a smaller company when we left the 
house of Bivar! 

At this time there came a crowned one from the parts of 
the East, that is to say, one who was shaven and shorn ; his 
name was the Bishop Don Hieronymo, a full learned man and 
a wise, and one who was mighty both on horseback and afoot : 
and he came inquiring for the Cid, wishing that he might 
see himself with the Moors in the field, for if he could once 
have his fill of smiting and slaying them, Christians should 
never lament him. And when the Cid knew this it pleased 
him in his heart, and he took horse and went to visit him, 
and rejoiced greatly that he was come ; and he resolved to 
make Valencia a bishopric and give it to this good Christian. 
And they took counsel, and it was that on the morrow the 
Bishop and his clergy should turn the Mosques into Churches, 
wherein they might sing masses, and sacrifice the body of Jesus 
Christ. And rents were appointed for the table of- the Bishop 
and for his Canons, and for all the clergy in the city of Va- 
lencia. And nine parish Churches were made. And the great- 
est was called St. Pedro's, and another was called St. Mary of 
the Virtues. This was near the Alcazar, and there the Cid went 
oftenest to hear service. After this manner the Cid ordered his 
city that it should be a bishopric, for the honour of the Cath- 
olic faith. God ! how joyful was all Christendom that there 
was a Lord Bishop in the land of Valencia ! 

Now the Cid bethought him of Dona Ximena his wife, 
and of his daughters Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, whom he had 




V 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 43 

left in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena ; and he called 
for Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez of Burgos, and spake 
with them, and besought them that they would go to Castile, 
to King Don Alfonso his Lord, and take him a present from 
the riches which God had given them ; and the present should 
be a hundred horses, saddled and bridled ; and that they would 
kiss the King's hand for him, and beseech him to send him 
his wife Dona Ximena, and his daughters, and that they would 
tell the King all the mercy which God had shown him, and 
how he was at his service with Valencia and with all that he 
had. Moreover he bade them take a thousand marks of silver 
to the Monastery of St. Pedro de' Cardena, and give them to 
the abbot, and thirty marks of gold for his wife and daughters, 
that they might prepare themselves and come in honourable 
guise. And he ordered three hundred marks of gold to be given 
them, and three hundred marks of silver, to redeem the chests 
full of sand which he had pledged in Burgos to the Jews; and 
he bade them ask Rachel and Vidas to forgive him the de- 
ceit of the sand, for he had done it because of his great need: 
and he said, You, Martin Antolinez, were aiding and abetting 
herein, but praised be the name of the Lord for ever, he hath 
let me quit myself truly ; tell them that they shall have more 
profit than they asked. And he bade them each take with 
him his whole company, that they might be better advised and 
accompanied, and that Dona Ximena might come with the 
greater honour: and the company was this: two hundred knights 
who were of Don Alvar Fanez, and fifty of Martin Antolinez: 
and he ordered money to be given them for their disburse- 
ment, and for all things needful, in abundance. 

Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez went their way, and 
they found the King in the city of Palencia. When they ar- 



144 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

rived he was coming from mass, and seeing this goodly com- 
pany of horsemen he stopped in the church porch, and asked 
who they were. And it was told him that they were people 
of the Cid, who came to him with a full great present. And 
Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez alighted, and came to the 
King, and kissed his hand ; and he received them right well, 
and said, What tidings bring ye me of the Cid, my true vassal, 
the most honourable knight that ever was knighted in Castile ? 
Well was Minaya pleased when he heard this, and he said, A 
boon, Sir King Don Alfonso, for the love of your Maker ! My 
Cid sendeth to kiss your hands and your feet, as • his natural 
Lord, at whose service he is, and from whom he expecteth 
much bounty and good. You banished him from the land ; 
but though in another's country, he hath only done you ser- 
vice. Five pitched battles hath he won since that time, and. 
with all, the right noble city of Valencia, for the honour of the 
faith of Jesus Christ, and of you our Lord and King; and 
he hath made it a bishopric, and made the honourable Don 
Hieronymo Bishop thereof with his own hand. And behold here 
are a hundred horses of the spoils which he hath won ; they 
are great and swift, and all are bridled and saddled, and he kisseth 
your hand and beseecheth you as his natural Lord to receive 
them. When the King heard this he was greatly astonished, 
and he lifted up his right hand and blessed himself, and said, 
As St. Isidro shall keep me, I rejoice in the good fortune of 
the Cid, and receive his gift full willingly. But though this 
pleased the King it did not please Garci Ordonez, and he said, 
It seemeth there is not a man left in the land of the Moors, 
that the Cid can thus do his pleasure! And the King said unto 
him, Hold thy peace, for in all things he serves me better than 
thou. Then Alvar Fanez kissed the King's hand again, and said, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. I45 

Sir, the Cid beseecheth you of your bounty that he may have 
his wife Dona Ximena and his two daughters, that they may 
go to Valencia unto him, from the Monastery where he left them, 
for it is many days since he saw them, and if it please you 
this would rejoice him. And the King made answer, It pleases 
me well, and I will give them a guard throughout my dominions, 
that they may be conducted honourably to the border : when 
they have passed it, the Campeador himself will look to them. 
And he said, Hear me! all those whom I have disseized of 
their inheritances for following the Campeador, I restore again to 
the possession thereof, and all those who desire to serve him I 
freely license : let them go in the grace of God. Moreover the 
King said, I grant him Valencia and all that he hath won and 
shall win hereafter, that he be called Lord thereof, and that 
he hold it of no other Lordship save of me, who am his liege 
Lord. Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez kissed his hand for 
this in the Cid's name. And the King called a porter, who should 
go with them, bearing a writing from the King, that all things 
needful should be given unto them so long as they were in his 
lands. Then Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez dispeeded 
themselves of the King, and took their way toward Burgos. 

When they reached Burgos they sent for Rachel and for 
Vidas, and demanded from them the chests, and paid unto them 
the three hundred marks of gold and the three hundred of 
silver as the Cid had commanded, and they besought them to 
forgive the Cid the deceit of the chests, for it was done be- 
cause of his great necessity. And they said they heartily for- 
gave him, and held themselves well paid ; and they prayed God 
to grant him long life and good health, and to give him power 
to advance Christendom, and put down Pagandom. And when 
it was known through the city of. Burgos the goodness and 



146 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

the gentleness which the Cid had shown to these merchants 
in redeeming from them the chests full of sand and earth and 
stones, the people held it for a great wonder, and there was 
not a place in all Burgos where they did not talk of the 
gentleness and loyalty of the Cid ; and they besought blessings 
upon him, and prayed that he and his people might be ad- 
vanced in honour. When they had done this, they went to the 
Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena, and the porter of the King 
went with them, and gave order everywhere that everything 
which they wanted should be given them. If they were well 
received, and if there was great joy in St. Pedro de Cardena 
over them, it is not a thing to ask, for Dona Ximena and her 
daughters were like people beside themselves with the great joy 
which they had, and they came running out on foot to meet 
them, weeping plenteously for great joy. And Alvar Fafiez and 
Martin Antolinez, when they saw them coming, leaped off their 
horses, and went to them, and Minaya embraced Dona Ximena 
and both his cousins, Doha Elvira and Dona Sol, and so great 
was the rejoicing which they made together that no man can 
tell it you. And when this great joy was somewhat abated t 
Dona Ximena asked how the Cid fared, for since he had parted 
from her she had heard no news of him. And Alvar Fahez 
said he had left him safe and sound in Valencia ; and he bade 
her and her daughters thank God for the great favour that he 
had shown him, for he had won sundry castles from the Moors, 
and the noble city of Valencia, whither he was now come to 
carry her and her daughters, for the Cid had sent for them, 
and when he should see them his heart's desire would be ac- 
complished. When Dona Ximena and her daughters heard this, 
they set their knees to the ground, and lifted up their hands 
and thanked God for the favour he had shown to the Cid, and 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. I47 

to them with him, in giving him the Lordship of Valencia. 
While they were preparing for the journey, Alvar Fanez sent 
three knights to the Cid to tell him how they had sped with 
the King, and of the great favour which they had found at his 
hands, and how he only tarried now to equip Dona Ximena, 
that she might come full honourably. That good one Minaya 
then began to deck them out for the journey with the best 
trappings which could be found in Burgos : right noble garments 
did he provide for them, and a great company of damsels, and 
good palfreys, and great mules, which were not bad ones. And 
he gave the Abbot the thousand marks of silver which the Cid 
had sent for the Monastery, with which to discharge all the 
debt that Dona Ximena and his daughters had contracted. Great 
was the stir throughout all that land of the honour of the Cid, 
and of the license which the King gave to as many as should 
choose to join him; and for this reason full sixty knights came 
to St. Pedro de Cardefia, and a great number of squires on foot. 
Don Alvar Fanez was well pleased to see them, and he promised 
them that he would obtain the Cid's grace for them, and would 
befriend them all he could. Great dole did the Abbot make 
when they departed; and he said, As God shall help you, Minaya, 
kiss the hand of the Campeador for me. This Monastery will 
never forget him, to pray for him every day in the year. The 
Cid will alway prosper more and more. Minaya promised to do 
this, and dispeeded himself, and they went their way. Five days 
they travelled, and then they came to Medina Celi ; and alway 
the porter of the King was with them, and made all that they 
wanted be given unto them, even as the King had commanded. 
Now the three knights whom Alvar Fanez had sent, came 
to the Cid and delivered their message. When my Cid heard 
it his heart rejoiced and he was '"glad, and he spake with his 



148 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



mouth and said, He who sends good messengers, looks for good 
tidings. Blessed be the name of God, since King Don Alfonso 
rejoices in my good fortune. And he called for Muno Gustios, 
and Pero Bermudez, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and bade 







Abencano. 

them take a hundred knights lest there should be need to fight, 
and go to Molina, to Abencano, who was his friend and vas- 
sal, and bid him take another hundred knights, and go with 
them to Medina Celi as fast as they could go. There, said 
he, ye will find Alvar Fafiez and my wife and daughters ; bring 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 149 

them to me with great honour : I will remain here in Valencia 
which has cost me so much ; great folly would it be if I were 
to leave it : I will remain in it, for I hold it for my heritage. 
And they did as he commanded them. And when they came 
to Molina, Abencano received them right well, and did them 
great honour ; and though the Cid had bidden him take only 
one hundred horse, he took two. On the morrow thev went 
to horse, and crossed the mountains, which are great and wild. 
There was good look-out kept in Medina, and Alvar Fafiez 
sent two knights to know who they were. They made no tar- 
riance in doing this, for they had it at heart ; one tarried with 
them, and the other returned, and said it was the host of the 
Campeador with Pero Bermudez, and Muno Gustios, and the 
Bishop Hieronymo, and the Alcayaz Abencano. This instant, 
said Minaya, let us to horse ; incontinently this was done, for 
they would make no delay. And they rode upon goodly horses 
with bells at their poitrals and trappings of sandal silk, and 
they had their shields round their necks, and lances with 
streamers in their hands. Oh, how Alvar Fafiez went out from 
Castile with these ladies ! They who pricked forward, couched 
their spears and then raised them, and great joy was there by 
Salon, where they met. The others humbled themselves to 
Minaya : when Abencano came up he kissed him on the shoul- 
der, for such was his custom. In a good day, Minaya, said he, 
do you bring these ladies, the wife and daughters of the Cid, 
whom we all honour. Whatever ill we may wish him we can 
do him none ; . . in peace or in war he will have our wealth, 
and he must be a fool who does not acknowledge this truth. 
Alvar Fafiez smiled and told him he should lose nothing by 
this service which he had done the Cid ; and now, said he, let 
us go rest, for the supper is ready. Abencano said he was well 



I5O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

pleased to partake it, and that within three days he would return 
him the entertainment twofold. Then they entered Medina, 
and Minaya served them ; all were full glad of the service 
which they had undertaken, and the King's porter paid for all. 

The night is gone, morning is come, mass is said, and 
they go to horse. That good Christian the Bishop Don Hie- 
ronymo, night and day guarded the ladies ; on a goodly horse 
he rode, and they went between him and Alvar Fanez. They 
came to Molina, and they were lodged in a good and rich 
house, and Abencano the Moor waited on them. Nothing did 
they want which they could wish to have : he even had all 
their beasts new shod, and for Minaya and the ladies, Lord ! 
how he honoured them! On the morrow they left Molina, and 
the Moor went with them. When they were within three 
leagues of Valencia, news of their coming was brought to the 
Cid. Glad was the Cid, never was he more joyful, never had 
he such joy, for tidings were come to him of what he loved 
best. Two hundred knights did he order out to meet them, 
others he bade to keep the Alcazar, and the other high towers, 
and all the gates and entrances. And he commanded that they 
should bring him Bavieca. It was but a short time since he had 
won this horse ; my Cid, he who girt on sword in a happy 
hour, did not yet know if he was a good goer, and if he stop- 
ped well. The Bishop Don Hieronymo, he pricked forward and 
entered the city. He left his horse and went to the Church, 
and collected all the clergy ; they put on their surplices, and 
with crosses of silver went out to meet the ladies, and that 
good one Minaya. He who was born in happy hour made no 
tarriance ; they saddled him Bavieca, and threw his trappings on. 
My Cid wore light armour, and his surcoat over it : long was 
his beard. He went out upon this horse, and ran a career 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 5 1 

with him ; Bavieca was the name of the horse, and when he 
was running all marvelled at him : from that day Bavieca was 
famous all over Spain. At the end of the course my Cid alight- 
ed and went toward his wife and his daughters. Who can tell 
the joy that was made at their meeting? They fell at his feet, 
and their joy wis such that they could not speak. And he 
raised them up and embraced them, and kissed them many 
times, weeping for joy that he saw them alive. Hear what he 
said who was born in happy hour ! You dear and honoured 
wife, and ye my daughters, my heart and my soul ; enter with 
me into Valencia ; . . this is the inheritance which I have won 
for you. While they were thus rejoicing the Bishop Don Hie- 
ronymo came with the procession. Dona Ximena brought good 
relics and other sacred things, which she gave to ennoble the 
new church of Valencia. In this guise they entered the city. 
Who can tell the rejoicings that were made that day, throw- 
ing at the board, and killing bulls ! My Cid led them to the 
Alcazar, and took them up upon the highest tower thereof, and 
there they looked around and beheld Valencia, how it lay be- 
fore them, and the great Garden with its thick shade, and the 
sea on the other side; and they lifted up their hands to thank 
God. Great honour did the Cid do to Abencano the Lord of 
Molina, for all the service which he had done to Dona Ximena. 
Then said Abencano, This, Sir, I was bound to do, for since 
I have been your vassal I have always been respected, and 
defended from all my enemies, and maintained in good estate; 
how then should I do otherwise than serve you? If I did 
not, I should lack understanding. And the Cid thanked him 
for what he had done, and what he had said, and promised 
also to show favour unto him. And Abencano took his leave 
and returned to Molina. 



152 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

The winter is passed, and March is coming in. Three 
months Dona Ximena had been in Valencia, when tidings came 
to the Cid from beyond sea, that King Yucef, the son of the 
Miramamolin, who dwelt in Morocco, was coming to lay siege 
unto Valencia with fifty thousand men."" When the Cid heard 
this he gave command to store all his Castles, and had them 
well repaired. And he had the walls of the city prepared, 
and stored it well with food and with all things needful for 
war, and gathered together a great power of Christians and of 
the Moors of his seigniory. Hardly had he done this before he 
heard that Yucef was near at hand, and coming as fast as he 
could come. Then the Cid assembled together the Christians 
in the Alcazar, and when they were assembled, he rose upon 
his feet, and said, Friends and kinsmen and vassals, praised be 
God and holy Mary Mother, all the good which I have in 
the world I have here in Valencia ; with hard labour I won 
the city, and hold it for my heritage, and for nothing less than 
death will I leave it. My daughters and my wife shall see me 
fight, . . they shall see with their own eyes our manner of 
living in this land, and how we get our bread. We will go 
out against the Moors and give them battle, and God who 
hath thus far shown favour unto us will still continue to be 
our helper. When they heard this they cried out with one 
accord that they would do his bidding, and go out with him 
and fight under his banner, for certain they were that by his 
good fortune the Moors would be overthrown. 

On the morrow the Cid took Dona Ximena by the hand, 
and her daughters with her, and made them go up upon the 
highest tower of the Alcazar, and they looked toward the sea 
and saw the great power of the Moors, how they came on 

*See Appendix, Note J. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 53 

and drew nigh, and began to pitch their tents round about 
Valencia, beating their tambours and with great uproar. And 
Ximena's heart failed her, and she asked the Cid if peradven- 
ture God would deliver him from these enemies. Fear not, 
honoured woman, said he ; you are but lately arrived, and they 
come to bring you a present, which shall help marry your 
daughters. Fear not, for you shall see me fight by the help 
of God and holy Mary Mother ; my heart kindles because 
you are here ! the more Moors the more gain. The tambours 
sounded now with a great alarum, and the sun was shining . . . 
Cheer up, said my Cid; . . this is a glorious day. But Ximena 
was seized with such fear as if her heart would have broken ; 
she and her daughters had never been in such fear since the 
day that they were born. 

The Cid looked smiling on them with his hand upon his beard, 
" Courage, noble ladies, there is nothing to be feared ; 
The drums there that are making the noises, that are heard, 
You shall have them brought before you, within a fortnight's 

space, 
To view their shape and make, here in this very place. 
We shall dispose them afterward as the bishop may desire, 
To remain for a memorial in the cathedral quire ; 
It is a vow recorded — a vow the Cid has made, 
To present them for an offering, and it must needs be paid ;" 
Thus has he cheered the ladies, they felt no more afraid. 
The Moorish cavaliers are advancing without fear, 
They enter in the Huerta and approach the city near: 
The watchman in the barbican has smitten on the bell, 
The Christians are assembled, armed and accoutred well, 
They sally forth in order with an eager fierce attack — 
The Moors are broken with the shock, routed and driven back. 



154 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

In the charge and the pursuit five hundred Moors were slain, 
The Christians follow them in haste to the tents upon the plain, 
But by their own mischance, ere they returned again, 
Alvar Salvador was left a prisoner to remain. 
The rest are all returned, that dine at the Cid's board. 
The adventures of the day, they report them to their Lord : 
The Cid has seen and heard it — he spake a merry word : 
" Gentlemen, for this day's work our chance has not been ill, 
To-morrow with God's blessing we shall do better still ; 
Our Bishop, good Don Jerom, an early mass shall say, 
And give us absolution before the dawn of day. 
Then we shall sally forth and assault them in the names 
Of the Lord and his Apostle our worthy good St. James." 
There was an answer all at once — one answer from the whole — 
"With all our hearts," the knights replied, " with all our hearts 
and soul." 
Day is gone, and night is come. At cock-crow they all 
assembled together in the Church of St. Pedro, and the Bishop 
Don Hieronymo sung mass, and they were shriven and assoyled, 
and howselled. Great was the absolution which the Bishop 
gave them : He who shall die, said he, fighting face forward, 
I will take his sins, and God shall have his soul. Then said he, 
A boon, Cid Don Rodrigo ; I have sung mass to you this 
morning : let me have the giving the first wounds in this battle I 
and the Cid granted him this boon in the name of God. Then 
being all ready they went out through the gate which is called 
the Gate of the Snake, for the greatest power of the Moors 
was on that side, leaving good men to guard the gates. Alvar 
Fanez and his company were already gone forth, and had laid 
their ambush. Four thousand, lacking thirty, were they who went 
out with my Cid, with a good will, to attack fifty thousand. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



157 



They went through all the narrow places, and bad passes, and 
leaving the ambush on the left, struck to the right hand, so 
as to get the Moors between them and the town. And the 
Cid put his battles in good array, and bade Pero Bermudez bear 
his banner. When the Moors saw this they were greatly amazed; 
and they harnessed themselves in great haste, and came out of 
their tents. Then the Cid bade his banner move on, and the 
Bishop Don Hieronymo pricked forward with his company, and 
laid on with such guise, that the hosts were soon mingled to- 
gether. Then might you have seen many a horse running about 
the field with the saddle under his belly, and many a horse- 
man in evil plight upon the ground. Great was the smiting and 
slaying in short time ; but by reason that the Moors were so 
great in number, they bore hard upon the Christians, and were 
in the hour of overcoming them. And the Cid began to en- 
courage them with a loud voice, shouting God and Santiago ! 
And Alvar Fanez at this time issued out from ambush, and 
fell upon them, on the side which was nearest the sea ; and 
the Moors thought that a great power had arrived to the Cid's 
succour, and they were dismayed and began to fly. And the Cid 
and his people pursued, punishing them in a bad way. If we 
should wish to tell you how every one behaved himself in this 
battle, it is a thing which could not be done, for all did so well 
that no man can relate their feats. And the Cid Ruydiez did so 
well, and made such mortality among the Moors, that the blood 
ran from his wrist to his elbow ! great pleasure had he in his 
horse Bavieca that day, to find himself so well mounted. And 
in the pursuit he came up to King Yucef, and smote him three 
times : but the King escaped from under the sword, for the horse 
of the Cid passed on in his course, and when he turned, the 
King being on a fleet horse was far off, so that he might not 



I58 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CIU. 

be overtaken ; and he got into a Castle called Guyera, for so far 
did the Christians pursue them, smiting and slaying, and giving 
them no respite, so that hardly fifteen thousand escaped of fifty 
that they were. They who were in the ships, when they saw 
this great overthrow, fled to Denia. 

Then the Cid and his people returned to the field and be- 
gan to plunder the tents. And the spoil was so great that there 
was no end to the riches, in gold and in silver, and in horses and 
arms, so that men knew not what to leave and what to take. 
And they found one tent which had been King Yucef's ; never 
man saw so noble a thing as that tent was ; and there were 
great riches therein, and there also did they find Alvar Salvadores, 
who had been made prisoner the yesterday, as ye have heard. 
Greatly did the Cid rejoice when he saw him alive, and sound, 
and he ordered his chains to be taken off: and then he left 
Alvar Fanez to look to the spoil, and went into Valencia with a 
hundred knights. His wrinkled brow was seen, for he had taken 
off his helmet, and in this manner he entered, upon Bavieca, 
sword in hand. Great joy had Dona Ximena and her daughters 
who were awaiting him, when they saw .him come riding in ; 
and he stopped when he came to them, and said, Great honour 
have I won for you, while you kept Valencia this day ! God 
and the Saints have sent us goodly gain, upon your coming. 
Look, with a bloody sword, and a horse all sweat, this is the 
way that we conquer the Moors ! Pray God that I may live 
yet awhile for your sakes, and you shall enter into great honour, 
and they shall kiss your hands. Then my Cid alighted when 
he had said this, and the ladies knelt down before him, and 
kissed his hand, and wished him long life. Then they entered 
the Palace with him, and took their seats upon the precious 
benches. Wife Dona Ximena, said he, these damsels who have 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 59 

served you so well, I will give in marriage to these my vas- 
sals, and to every one of them two hundred marks of silver, 
that it may be known in Castile what they have got by their 
services. Your daughters' marriage will come in time. And they 
all rose and kissed his hand; and great was the joy in the 
Palace, and it was done according, as the Cid had said. 

Alvar Failez this while was in the field writing and taking 
account of the spoil : but the tents and arms and precious gar- 
ments were so many that they cannot be told, and the horses 
were beyond all reckoning; they ran about the field, and there 
was nobody to take them, and the Moors of the land got some- 
thing by that great overthrow. Nevertheless so many horses 
were taken that the Campeador had to his share of the good 
ones a thousand and five hundred. Well might the others have 
good store when he had so many. And my Cid won in this 
battle from King Yucef, his good sword Tizona, which is to say 
the firebrand. The tent of the King of Morocco, which was 
supported by two pillars wrought with gold, he gave order not 
to be touched, for he would send it to Alfonso the Castilian. 
The Bishop Don Hieronymo, that perfect one with the shaven 
crown, he had his fill in that battle, fighting with both hands ; 
no one could tell how many he slew. Great booty came to 
him, and moreover the Cid sent him the tithe of his fifth. 
Glad were the Christian folk in Valencia for the great booty 
which they had gotten, and glad was Dona Ximena and her 
daughters, and glad were all those ladies who were married. 

King Yucef, after the pursuit was given over, and he saw 
that he might come forth from the Castle, fled to Denia, and 
embarked in his ships, and returned to Morocco. And thinking 
every day how badly he had sped, and how he had been con- 
quered by so few, and how many of his people he had lost, 



l6o THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

he fell sick and died. But before he died he besought his 
brother, who was called Bucar, that for the tie there was be- 
tween them, he would take vengeance for the dishonour which 
he had received from the Cid Campeador before Valencia ; and 
Bucar promised to do this, and swore also upon the Koran, 
which is the book of their law. And accordingly he "came after- 
ward across the sea, with nine and twenty Kings, as shall be 
related when the time comes. 

Then the Cid sent Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez with 
a present to King Alfonso his Lord. And the present which 
he sent was two hundred horses saddled and bridled, with each 
a sword hanging from the saddle-bow : and also the noble tent 
which he had won from King Yucef of Morocco. This present 
he gave, because the King had sent him his wife and daughters 
when he asked for them, and because of the honour which he 
had done them, and that the King might not speak ill of him 
who commanded in Valencia. Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez 
went their way toward Castile, over sierras and mountains and 
waters ; and they asked where the King was, and it was told 
them, that he was at Valladolid, and thither they went. And 
when they drew nigh unto the city, they sent to let him know 
of their coming, and to ask of him whether he thought it good 
for them to come into the city unto him, or if he would come 
out to them, for they were a great company, and the present a 
full great one, which he would see better without, than in the 
town. And the King thought this best, and he went to horse, 
and bade all the hidalgos who were with him do the like. 
Now the Infantes of Carrion were there, Diego Gonzalez and 
Ferrando Gonzalez, the sons of Count Don Gonzalo. And they 
found the company of the Cid about half a league from the 
town, and when the King saw how many they were, he blessed 







" They sent to let the King know of their coming. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 63 

himself, for they seemed like a host. And Minaya and Pero 
Bermudez pricked on when they saw him, and came before him, 
and alighted, and knelt down, and kissed the ground and kissed 
both his feet : and he bade them rise and mount their horses, 
and would not hear them till they had mounted, and taken their 
places one at his right hand, and the other at his left. And 
they said, Sir, the Cid commends himself to your grace as his 
liege Lord, and thanks you greatly for having sent him with such 
honour his wife and daughters. And know, Sir, that since they 
arrived, he hath achieved a great victory over the Moors, and 
their King Yucef of Morocco, the Miramamolin, who besieged 
him in Valencia with fifty thousand men. And he went out 
against them, and smote them, and hath sent you these two hun- 
dred horses from his fifth. Then Alvar Fanez gave order that 
the horses should be led forward. And this was the manner in 
which they came. The two hundred horses came first, and every 
one was led by a child, and every one had a sword hanging 
from the saddle, on the left side ; and after them came the pages 
of all the knights in company, carrying their spears, and then the 
company, and after them an hundred couple with spears in rest. 
And when they had all passed by, the King blessed himself again, 
and he laughed and said that never had so goodly a present been 
sent before to King of Spain by his vassal. And Alvar Fanez 
said moreover, Sir, he hath sent you a tent, the noblest that 
ever man saw, which he won in this battle : and the King gave 
order that the tent should be spread, and he alighted and went 
into it, he and all his people, and he was greatly pleased ; and 
they all said that they had never seen so noble a tent as this ; 
and the King said he had won many from the Moors, but 
never such as this. But albeit that all the others were well 
pleased, Count Don Garcia was not so; and he and >ten of 



164 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

his lineage talked apart, and said that this which the Cid had 
done was to their shame, for they hated the Cid in their hearts. 
And King Don Alfonso said, Thanks be to God and to Sir 
Saint Isidro of Leon, these horses may do me good service ;: 
and he gave three of them to Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and 
bade them choose, and he ordered food and clothing to be 
given them while they remained, and said that he would give 
them complete armour when they returned, such as was fit for 
them to appear in before my Cid. And they were lodged, and 
all things that were needful provided for them and their people.. 





The marriage of the Cid' s daughters to the Counts of Carrion — The coivardice of 
the Counts — King Bucar comes from beyond sea with nine and twenty kings 
. to avenge his brother Yucef but his host is cut to pieces. 

When the Infantes of Carrion, Diego Gonzalez and Ferrando 
Gonzalez, saw the noble present which the Cid had sent unto 
the King-, and heard how his riches and power daily increased, 
and thought what his wealth must needs be when he had given 
those horses out of the fifth of one battle, and moreover that 
he was Lord of Valencia : they spake one with the other, and 
agreed, that if the Cid would give them his daughters to wife, 
they should be well married, and become rich and honourable. 
And they agreed together that they would talk with the King 
in private upon this matter. And they went presently to him, 
and said, Sir, we beseech you of your bounty to help us in a 
thing which will be to your honour ; for we are your vassals, 
and the richer we are the better able shall we be to serve 
you. And the King asked of them what it was they would 
have, and they then told him their desire. And the King 



1 66 THE QHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

thought upon it awhile, and then came to them, and said, 
Infantes, this thing which you ask lies not in me, but in the 
Cid ; for it is in his power to marry his daughters, and per- 
adventure he will not do it as yet. Nevertheless, that ye may 
not fail for want of my help, I will send to tell him what 
ye wish. Then they kissed his hand for this favour. And the 
King sent for Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez, and went apart 
with them, and praised the Cid, and thanked him for the good 
will which he had to do him service, and said that he had 
great desire to see him. Say to him, he said, that I beseech 
him to come and meet me, for I would speak with him con- 
cerning something which is to his good and honour. Diego 
and Ferrando, the Infantes of Carrion, have said unto me that 
they would fain wed with his daughters, if it seemeth good 
to him ; and methinks this would be a good marriage. When 
Alvar Fanez and Pero Bermudez heard this, they answered 
the King, and said, Certain we are, Sir, that neither in this, 
nor in anything else, will the Cid do aught but what you, 
Sir, shall command or advise. When ye have your meeting 
ye will agree concerning it as is best. Then they kissed his 
hand, and took their leave. 

On the morrow the messengers of the Cid departed from 
Valladolid, and took their way toward Valencia ; and when the 
Cid knew that they were nigh at hand he went out to meet 
them, and when he saw them he waxed joyful; and he em- 
braced them, and asked what tiding of his Lord Alfonso. And 
they told him how they had sped, and how greatly the King 
loved him ; and when we departed, said they, he bade us 
beseech you to come and meet him anywhere where you will 
appoint, for he desireth to speak with you, concerning the 
marriage of your daughters with the Infantes of Carrion, if it 






THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 167 

should please you so to bestow them : now by what the King 
. said it seemeth unto us that this marriage pleaseth him. And 
when the Cid heard this he became thoughtful, and he said to 
them after awhile, What think ye of this marriage? And they 
answered him, Even as it shall please you. And he said to 
them, I was banished from my own country, and was dishonoured, 
and with hard labour gained I what I have got ; and now I 
stand in the King's favour, and he asketh of me my daughters 
for the Infantes of Carrion. They are of high blood and full 
orgullous, and I have no liking to this match ; but if our Lord 
the King adviseth it we can do no otherwise : we will talk 
of this, and God sent it for the best. So they entered Valencia, 
and the Cid spake with Dona Ximena touching this matter, 
and when she heard it it did not please her ; nevertheless she 
said, if the King thought it good they could do no other- 
wise. Then the Cid gave order to write letters to the King, 
saying, that he would meet the King as he commanded, and 
whatever the King wished that he would do. And he sealed 
the letters well, and sent two knights with them. And when 
the King saw the letters he was well pleased, and sent others 
to say that the time of their meeting should be three weeks 
after he received these letters, and the place appointed was 
upon the Tagus, which is a great river. 

Now began they to prepare on both sides for this meet- 
ing. He who should relate to you the great preparations, and 
the great nobleness which were made for the nonce, would 
have much to recount. Who ever saw in Castile so many a 
precious mule, and so many a good-going palfrey, and so many 
great horses, and so many goodly streamers set upon goodly 
spears, and shields adorned with gold and with silver, and man- 
tles, and skins, and rich sendals of_Adria ? The King sent great 



1 68 THE CHRONICLE OF ' THE CID. 

store of food to the banks of the Tagus, where the place of 
meeting was appointed. Glad were the Infantes of Carrion, and 
richly did they bedight themselves ; some things they paid for, 
and some they went in debt for : great was their company, and 
with the King there were many Leonese and Galegos, and 
Castilians out of number. My Cid the Campeador made no 
tarriance in Valencia ; he made ready for the meeting : there 
was many a great mule, and many a palfrey, and many a good 
horse, and many a goodly suit of arms, cloaks, and mantles 
both of cloth and of peltry ; . . . great and little are all 
clad in colours. Alvar Fanez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and 
Martin Munoz, and Martin Antolinez that worthy Burgalese, 
and the Bishop Don Hieronymo that good one with the shaven 
crown, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores, and Muno 
Gustios that knight of prowess, and Galind Garcia of Arragon ; 
all these and all the others made ready to go with the Cid. 
But he bade Alvar Salvadores and Galind Garcia and all those 
who were under them, remain and look with heart and soul to 
the safety of Valencia, and not open the gates of the Alcazar 
neither by day nor by night, for his wife and daughters were 
there, in whom he had his heart and soul, and the other ladies 
with them ; he like a good husband gave order that not one of 
them should stir out of the Alcazar till he returned. Then 
they left Valencia and pricked on more than apace ; more 
than a thousand knights, all ready for war, were in this com- 
pany. All those great horses that paced so well and were so 
soft of foot, my Cid won ; they were not given to him. 

King Don Alfonso arrived first by one day at the place 
of meeting, and when he heard that the Cid was at hand, he 
went out with all his honourable men, more than a long league 
to meet him. When he who was born in a good hour had 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 169 

his eye upon the King, he bade his company halt, and with 
fifteen of the knights whom he loved best he alighted, and 
put his hands and his knees to the ground, and took the herbs 
of the field between his teeth, as if he would have eaten them, 
weeping for great joy ; . , thus did he know how to humble 
himself before Alfonso his Lord ; and in this manner he ap- 
proached his feet and would have kissed them. And the King 
drew back and said, The hand, Cid Campeador, not the foot ! 
And the Cid drew nigh upon his knees and besought grace, 
saying, In this guise grant me your love, so that all present 
may hear. And the King said that he forgave him, and grant- 
ed him his love with his heart and soul. And the Cid kissed 
both his hands, being still upon his knees ; and the king em- 
braced him, and gave him the kiss of peace. Well pleased 
were all they who beheld this, save only Alvar Diez and Gar- 
cia Ordonez, for they did not love the Cid. Then went they 
all toward the town, the King and the Cid talking together 
by the way. And the Cid asked the King to eat with him, 
and the King answered, Not so, for ye are not prepared; we 
arrived yesterday, and ye but now. Eat you and your com- 
pany therefore with me, for we have made ready. To-day, Cid 
Campeador, you are my guest, and to-morrow we will do as 
pleases you. Now came the Infantes of Carrion up and hum- 
bled themselves before the Cid, and he received them well, and 
they promised to do him service. And the company of the 
Cid came up and kissed the King's hand. So they alighted 
and went to meat ; and the King said unto the Cid that he 
should eat with him at his table ; howbeit he would not. And 
when the King saw that he would not take his seat with him, 
he ordered a high table to be placed for the Cid and for 
Count Don Gonzalo, the father _of the Infantes of Carrion. 



17° THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

All the while that they ate the King could never look enough 
at the Cid, and he marvelled greatly at his beard, that it had 
grown to such length. And when they had eaten they were 
merry, and took their pleasure. And on the morrow the King 
and all they who went with him to this meeting, ate with the 
Cid, and so well did he prepare for them that all were full 
joyful, and agreed in one thing, that they had not eaten better 
for three years. There was not a man there who did not eat 
upon silver, and the King and the chief persons ate upon dishes 
and trenchers of gold. And when the Infantes saw this they 
had the marriage more at heart than before. 

On the morrow as soon as it was day, the Bishop Don 
Hieronymo sung mass before the King, in the oratory of the 
Cid ; and when it was over, the King said before all who were 
there assembled, Counts and Infanzones and knights, Hear what 
I shall say unto the Cid. Cid Ruydiez, the reason wherefore 
I sent for you to this meeting was twofold ; first, that I might 
see you, which I greatly desired, for I love you much because 
of the many and great services which you have done me, albeit 
that at one time I was wroth against you and banished you 
from the land. But you so demeaned yourself that you never 
did me disservice, but contrariwise great service both to God 
and to me, and have won Valencia, and enlarged Christendom, 
wherefore I am bound to show favour unto you and to love 
you alway. The second reason was, that I might ask you for 
your two daughters Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, that you would 
give them in marriage to the Infantes of Carrion, for this me- 
thinks would be a fit marriage, and to your honour and good. 
When the Cid heard this, he was in a manner bound to con- 
sent, having them thus demanded from him ; and he answer- 
ed and said, Sir, my daughters are of tender years, and if it 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. IJl 

might please you, they are yet too young for marriage. I do 
not say this as if the Infantes of Carrion were not worthy to 
match with them, and with better than they. And the King 
bade him make no excuse, saying, that he should esteem him- 
self well served if he gave his consent. Then the Cid said, 
Sir, I begat them, and you give them in marriage, both I 
and they are yours, . . give them to whom you please, and 
I am pleased therewith. When the King heard this he was 
well pleased, and he bade the Infantes kiss the hand of the 
Cid Campeador, and incontinently they changed swords before 
the King, and they did homage to him, as sons-in-law to their 
father-in-law. Then the King turned to the Cid, and said, I 
thank thee, Ruydiez, that thou hast given me thy daughters 
for the Infantes of Carrion ; and here I give them to the 
Infantes to be their brides ; I give them and not you, and I 
pray God that it may please him, and that you also may 
have great joy herein. The Infantes I put into your hands: 
they will go with you, and I shall return from hence, and I 
order that three hundred marks of silver be given to them for 
their marriage, and they and your daughters will all be your 
children. 

Eight days this meeting lasted ; the one day they dined 
with the King, and the other with the Cid. Then was it ap- 
pointed that on the morrow at sunrise every one should depart 
to his own home. My Cid then began to give to every one 
who would take his gifts, many a great mule, and many a 
good palfrey, and many a rich garment, . . every one had 
what he asked, . . he said no to none. Threescore horses did 
my Cid give away in gifts ; well pleased were all they who 
went to that meeting. And now they were about to separate, 
for it was night. The King took the Infantes by the hand, 



172 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and delivered them into the power of my Cid the Cam- 
peador, . . See here your sons : from this day, Campeador, 
you will know what to make of them. And the Cid answered, 
Sir, may it please you, seeing it is you who have made this 
marriage for my daughters, to appoint some one to whom I 
may deliver them, and who may give them, as from your hand, 
to the Infantes. And the King called for Alvar Fafiez Minaya, 
and said, You are sib to the damsels: I command you, when 
you come to Valencia, to take them with your hands, and give 
them to the Infantes, as I should do if that I were there pres- 
ent: and be you the bride's father. Then said the Cid, Sir, you 
must accept something from me at this meeting. I bring for 
you twenty palfreys, these that are gaily trapped, and thirty 
horses fleet of foot, these that are well caparisoned, . . take 
them, and I kiss your hand. Greatly have you bound me, 
said King Don Alfonso : I receive this gift, and God and all 
Saints grant that it may well be requited ; if I live you shall 
have something from me. Then my Cid sprung up upon his 
horse Bavieca, and he said, Here I say before my Lord the 
King, that if any will go with me to the wedding, I think they 
will get something by it ! and he besought the King that he 
would let as many go with him as were so minded ; and the 
King licensed them accordingly. And when they were about 
to part, the company that went with the Cid was greater than 
that which returned with the King. And the Cfd kissed the 
King's hand and dispeeded himself with his favour, and the 
King; returned to Castile. 

My Cid went his way toward Valencia, and he appointed 
Pero Bermudez and Muno Gustios, than whom there were no 
better two in all his household, to keep company with the 
Infantes of Carrion and be their guard, and he bade them spy 




The Cid's Daughters in-full noble Garments. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. I 75 

out what their conditions were ; and this they soon found out. 
The Count Don Suero Gonzalez went with the Infantes ; he 
was their father's brother, and had been their Ayo and bred 
them up, and badly had he trained them, for he was a man 
of great words, good of tongue and of nothing else good ; and 
full scornful and orgullous had he made them, so that the Cid 
was little pleased with them, and would willingly have broken 
off the marriage ; but he could not, seeing that the King had 
made it. And when they reached Valencia, the Cid lodged the 
Infantes in the suburb of Alcudia, where he had formerly lodged 
himself; and all the company who were come to the marriage 
were quartered with them. And he went to the Alcazar. 

On the morrow the Cid mounted his horse and rode into 
Alcudia, and brought the Infantes his sons-in-law from thence with 
him into the city to the Alcazar, that they might see their brides 
Dona Elvira and Dona Sol. Dona Ximena had her daughters 
ready to receive them in full noble garments, for since midnight 
they had done nothing but prink and prank themselves. Full 
richly was the Alcazar set out that day, with hangings both above 
and below, purple and samite, and rich cloth. The Cid entered 
between the Infantes, and all that noble company went in after 
them ; and they went into the chief hall of the Alcazar, where 
Dona Ximena was with her daughters ; and when they saw the 
Cid and the Infantes, they rose up and welcomed them right 
well. And the Cid took his seat upon his bench with one of 
the Infantes on one side of him, and one on the other, and the 
other honourable men seated themselves on the estrados, each 
in the place where he ought to be, and which belonged to 
him ; and they remained awhile silent. Then the Cid rose and 
called for Alvar Fanez and said, Thou knowest what my Lord 
the King commanded ; fulfil now his bidding, . . take thy 



176 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

cousins, and deliver them to the Infantes, for it is the King 
who gives them in marriage, and not I. And Alvar Fanez 
arose and took the damsels one in each hand, and delivered 
them to the Infantes, saying, Diego Gonzalez, and Ferrando 
Gonzalez, I deliver unto you these damsels, the daughters of 
the Cid Campeador, by command of King Don Alfonso my 
Lord, even as he commanded. Receive you them as your equal 
helpmates, as the law of Christ enjoineth. And the Infantes 
took each his bride by the hand, and went to the Cid and 
kissed his hand, and the same did they to their mother Dona 
Ximena Gomez : And the Bishop Don Hieronymo espoused 
them, and they exchanged rings. When this was done, the 
Cid went and seated himself on the estrado with the ladies, 
he and Dona Ximena in the middle, and beside him he placed 
Dona Elvira his eldest daughter, and by her, her spouse the 
Infante Diego Gonzalez ; and Dona Sol was seated on the other 
side, by her mother, and the Infante Ferrando by her. And 
when they had solaced themselves awhile, the Cid said that 
now they would go eat, and that the marriage should be per- 
formed on the morrow, and he besought and commanded the 
Bishop Don Hieronymo to perform it in such a manner that 
no cost should be spared, but that everything should be done 
so completely, that they who came from Castile to this wed- 
ding might alway have something to tell of. 

On the morrow they went to the Church of St. Mary, 
and there the Bishop Don Hieronymo sat awaiting them, and 
he blessed them all four at the altar. Who can tell the great 
nobleness which the Cid displayed at that wedding, the feasts 
and the bull-fights, and the throwing at the target, and the 
throwing canes, and how many joculars were there, and all the 
sports which are proper at such weddings? As soon as they 






THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. IJJ 

came out of Church they took horse and rode to the Glera ; 
three times did the Cid change his horse that day ; seven tar- 
gets were set up on the morrow, and before they went to 
dinner all seven were broken. Fifteen days did the feasts at 
this wedding continue ; then all they who had come there to> 
do honour to the Cid took leave of him and of the Infan- 
tes. Who can tell the great and noble gifts which the Cid 
gave to thern, both to great and little, each according to his 
quality, vessels of gold and silver, rich cloth, cloaks, furs, horses, 
and money beyond all reckoning, so that all were well pleased. 
And when it was told in Castile with what gifts they who^ 
had been to the wedding were returned, many were they who 
repented that they had not gone there. 

Now the history relateth that Gilbert, a sage who wrote 
the history of the Moorish Kings who reigned in Africa, saith 
that Bucar remembering the oath which he had made to his 
brother King Vucef, how he would take vengeance for him fc: 
the dishonour which he had received from the Cid Ruydiez 
before Valencia, ordered proclamation to be made throughout 
all the dominions of his father, and gathered together so great 
a power of Moors, that among the Captains of his host there 
were twenty and nine Kings; this he could well do, for his 
father was Miramamolin, which is much as to say Emperor. 
And when he had gathered together this mighty host, he entered 
into his ships and crossed the sea, and came unto the port of 
Valencia, and what there befel him with the Cid the history 
shall relate in due time. 

Two years after their marriage did the Infantes of Carrion 
sojourn in Valencia in peace and pleasure, to their own great 
contentment, and their uncle Suero Gonzalez with them ; and 
at the end of those two years, there came to pass a great mis- 



178 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

adventure, by reason of which they fell out with the Cid, in. 
whom there was no fault. There was a lion in the house of 
the Cid who had grown a large one, and a strong, and was 
full nimble : three men had the keeping of this lion, and 
they kept him in a den which was in a court-yard, high up 
in the palace ; and when they cleansed the court they were 
wont to shut him up in his den, and afterward to open the 
door that he might come out and eat: the Cid kept him for 
his pastime, that he might take pleasure with him when he 
was minded so to do. Now it was the custom of the Cid 
to dine every day with his company, and after he had dined, 
he was wont to sleep awhile upon his seat. And one day 
when he had dined, there came a man and told him that a 
great fleet was arrived in the port of Valencia, wherein there 
was a great power of the Moors, whom King Bucar had brought 
over, the son of the Miramamolin of Morocco. And when 
the Cid heard this, his heart rejoiced and he was glad, for 
it was nigh three years since he had had a battle with the 
Moors. Incontinently he ordered a signal to be made that all 
the honourable men who were in the city should assemble 
together. And when they were all assembled in the Alcazar, 
and his sons-in-law with them, the Cid told them the news, and 
took counsel with them in what manner they should go out 
against this great power of the Moors. And when they had 
taken counsel the Cid went to sleep upon his seat, and the 
Infantes and the others sat playing at tables and chess. Now 
at this time the men who were keepers of the lion were clean- 
ing the court, and when they heard the cry that the Moors 
were coming, they opened the den, and came down into the 
palace where the Cid was, and left the door of the court open. 
And when the lion had ate his meat and saw that the door 




V 



My Cid lakes the Lion by the Mane, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. l8l 

was open, he went out of the court and came down into the 
palace, even into the hall where they all were ; and when they 
who were there saw him, there was a great stir among them ; 
but the Infantes of Carrion showed greater cowardice than all 
the rest. Ferrando Gonzalez having no shame, neither for the 
Cid nor for the others who were present, crept under the seat 
whereon the Cid was sleeping, and in his haste he burst his 
mantle and his doublet also at the shoulders. And Diego Gon- 
zalez, the other, ran to a postern door, crying, I shall never 
see Carrion again ! this door opened upon a court-yard where 
there was a wine-press, and he jumped out, and by reason of 
the great height could not keep on his feet, but fell among 
the lees and defiled himself therewith. And all the others who 
were in the hall wrapt their cloaks around their arms, and 
stood round about the seat whereon the Cid was sleeping, that 
they might defend him. The noise which they made awakened 
the Cid, and he saw the lion coming toward him, and he lifted 
up his hand and said, What is this ? . . . and the lion hear- 
ing his voice stood still ; and he rose up and took him by 
the mane as if he had been a gentle mastiff, and led him back 
to the court where he was before, and ordered his keepers to 
look better to him for the time to come. And when he had 
done this he returned to the hall and took his seat again ■ 
and all they who beheld it were greatly astonished. 

After some time Ferrando Gonzalez crept from under the 
seat where he had hidden himself, and he came out with a pale 
face, not having yet lost his fear, and his brother Diego got from 
among the lees : and when they who were present saw them in 
this plight you never saw such sport as they made ; but my Cid 
forbade their laughter. And Diego went out to wash himself 
and change his garments, and he ^sent to call his brother forth, 



1 82 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and they took counsel together in secret, and said to each other, 
Lo now, what great dishonour this Ruydiez our father-in-law 
hath done us, for he let this lion loose for the nonce, to put us 
to shame. But in an evil day were we born if we do not revenge 
this upon his daughters. Badly were we matched with them, 
and now for the after-feast he hath made this mockery of us 1 
But we must keep secret this which we bear in mind, and not 
let him wit that we are wroth against him, for otherwise he would 
not let us depart from hence, neither give us our wives to take 
with us, and he would take from us the swords Colada and Tizona 
which he gave us. . . We will therefore turn this thing into 
merriment before him and his people, to the end that they may 
not suspect what we have at heart. While they were thus devis- 
ing, their uncle Suero Gonzalez came in, and they told him of 
their intent. And he counselled them to keep their wrath secret, 
as they said, till this stir of the Moors from beyond sea was over, 
and then they should demand their wives of the Cid that they 
might take them to their own country ; This, said he, the Cid can 
have no reason to deny, neither for detaining ye longer with him ; 
and when ye are got away far out of his land, then may ye do 
what ye will with his daughters, and ill will ye do if ye know 
not how to revenge yourselves ; so shall ye remove the dishonour 
from yourselves, and cast it upon him and his children. This 
wicked counsel did Suero Gonzalez give unto his nephews, which 
he might have well excused giving, and then both he and they 
would not have come off so badly as the history will in due 
season relate. 

After Suero Gonzalez and his nephews had taken this evil 
counsel together, they went to their lodging, and on the morrow 
they went to the Alcazar and came to the Cid where he was pre- 
paring for business. And when they drew nigh, the Cid rose and 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 63 

welcomed them right well, and they carried a good countenance 
toward him, and made sport of what had happened about the 
lion. And the Cid began to give order in what array they should 
go out to battle. While they were in this discourse, a great cry 
was heard in the town and a great tumult, and this was because 
King Bucar was come with his great power into the place which 
is called the Campo del Quarto, which is a league from Valencia, 
and there he was pitching his tents; and when this was done 
the camp made a mighty show, for the history saith that there 
were full five thousand pavilions, besides common tents. And 
when the Cid heard this, he took both his sons-in-law and Suero 
Gonzalez with them, and went upon the highest tower of the 
Alcazar, and showed them the great power which King Bucar 
of Morocco had brought ; and when he beheld this great power 
he began to laugh and was exceeding glad: but Suero Gonzalez 
and his nephews were in great fear : howbeit they would not 
let it be seen. And when they came down from the tower the 
Cid went foremost, and they tarried behind and said, If we go 
into this battle we shall never return to Carrion. Now it so 
chanced that Muno Gustios heard them, and he told it to the 
Cid, and it grieved the Cid at heart ; but he presently made sport 
of it, and turned to his sons-in-law, and said, You my sons shall 
remain in Valencia and guard the town, and we who are used to 
this business will go out to battle ; and they when they heard 
this were ashamed, for they weened that some one had overheard 
what they said ; and they made answer, God forefend, Cid, that 
we should abide in Valencia ! we will go with you to the work, 
and protect your body as if we were your sons, and you were 
the Count Don Gonzalo Gomez our father. And the Cid was 
well pleased hearing them say this. 

While they were thus saying, word was brought , to the 



184 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Cid that there was a messenger from King Bucar at the gate 
of the town, who would fain speak with him. The name of 
this Moor was Ximen de Algezira, and the Cid gave order that 
he should be admitted. Now the history saith, God hath given 
such grace to my Cid that never Moor beheld his face with- 
out having great fear of him ; and this Ximen began to gaze 
upon his countenance, and said nothing, for he could not speak. 
And so great was the fear which came upon him that the 
Cid perceived it, and bade him take courage and deliver the 
bidding of his Lord, without fear or shame, for he was a mes- 
senger. And when the Moor heard this he laid aside his fear, 
and recovered heart, and delivered his bidding fully, after this 
wise. Sir Cid Campeador, King Bucar my Lord hath sent me 
to thee saying, great wrong hast thou done him in holding 
Valencia against him, which belonged to his forefathers; and 
moreover thou hast discomfited his brother King Yucef. And 
now he is come against thee with twenty and nine Kings, to 
take vengeance for his brother, and to win Valencia from thee 
in spite of thee and of all who are with thee. Nevertheless, 
King Bucar saith, that inasmuch as he hath heard that thou 
art a wise man and of good understanding - , he will show 
favour unto thee, and let thee leave Valencia with all the 
lands thereof, and go into Castile, and take with thee all that 
is thine. And if thou wilt not do this he sends to say that 
he will fight against Valencia, and take thee and thy wife and 
thy daughters, and torment thee grievously, in such manner 
that all Christians who shall hear tell of it shall talk thereof 
for evermore. This is the bidding of my Lord King Bucar. 

When the Cid heard this, notwithstanding he was wroth 
at heart, he would not manifest it, but made answer in few 
words and said, Go tell thy Lord King Bucar I will not give 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 85 

him up Valencia; great labour did I endure in winning it, 
and to no man am I beholden for it in the world, save only 
to my Lord Jesus Christ, and to my kinsmen and friends and 
vassals who aided me to win it. Tell him that I am not a 
man to be besieged, and when he does not expect it I will give 
him battle in the field ; and would that even as he has brought 
with him twenty and nine Kings, so he had brought all the 
Moors of all Pagandom, for with the mercy of God in which 
I trust, I should think to conquer them all. Bear this answer 
to your Lord, and come here no more with messages, neither 
on this account nor on any other. When Ximen de Algezira, 
the Moorish messenger, heard this, he left Valencia, and went 
unto his Lord and told him before the twenty and nine Kings 
all that the Cid had said. And they were astonished at the 
brave words of the Cid, for they did not think that he would 
have resisted, so great was their power, neither did they ween 
that he would so soon come out to battle. And they began 
to give order to set their siege round about Valencia, as the 
history, and as Gilbert also relateth. 

No sooner had Ximen, the messenger of King Bucar, left 
the city, than the Cid ordered the bell to be struck, at the 
sound of which all the men at arms in Valencia were to gather 
together. Incontinently they all assembled before the Cid, and 
he told them all to be ready full early on the morrow to go out 
and give battle to the Moors. And they made answer with one 
accord that they were well pleased to do this, for they trusted in 
God and in his good fortune that they should overcome them. 
On the morrow therefore at the first cock-crow, they confessed 
and communicated, as was their custom, and before the morning 
brake they went forth from Valencia. And when they had got 
through the narrow passes among 4;he gardens, the Cid -set his 



1 86. THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

army in array. The van he gave to Alvar Fanez Minaya, and 
to Pero Bermudez who bore his banner ; and he gave them 
five hundred horsemen, and a thousand and five hundred men 
a-foot. In the right wing was that honourable one with the 
shaven crown, Don Hieronymo the Bishop, with the like number 
both of horse and foot; and in the left Martin Antolinez of 
Burgos and Alvar Salvadores, with as many more. The Cid 
came in the rear with a thousand horsemen all in coats of mail, 
and two thousand five hundred men a-foot. And in this array 
they proceeded till they came in sight of the Moors. As soon 
as the Cid saw their tents he ordered his men to slacken their 
pace, and got upon his horse Bavieca, and put himself in the 
front before all his army, and his sons-in-law the Infantes of 
Carrion advanced themselves wim him. Then the Bishop Don 
Hieronymo came to the Cid and said, This day have I said the 
mass of the Holy Trinity before you. I left my own country 
and came to seek you, for the desire I had to kill some Moors, 
and to do honour to my order and to my own hands. Now 
would I be the foremost in this business; I have my pennon and 
my armorial bearing, and will employ them by God's help, that 
my heart may rejoice. And my Cid, if you do not for the love 
of me grant this I will go my ways from you. But the Cid 
bade him do his pleasure, saying that it would please him also. 
And then the great multitude of the Moors began to come out 
of their tents, and they formed their battle in haste, and came 
against the Christians, with the sound of trumpets and tambours,, 
and with a great uproar ; and as they came out upon the alarm, 
not expecting that the Cid would come against them so soon 
they did not advance in order as King Bucar had commanded. 
And when the Cid saw this, he ordered his banner to be ad- 
vanced, and bade his people lay on manfully. The Bishop Don 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. lb J 

Hieronymo he pricked forward ; two Moors he slew with the 
two first thrusts of the lance ; the haft broke, and he laid hand 
on his sword. God, . . how well the Bishop fought! two he 
slew with the lance, and five with the sword; the Moors came 
round about him and laid on loads of blows, but they could 
not pierce his arms. He who was born in happy hour had 
his eyes upon him, and he took his shield and placed it before 
him, and lowered his lance, and gave Bavieca the spur, that 
good horse. With heart and soul he went at them, and made 
his way into their first battle ; seven the Campeador smote 
down, and four he slew. In short time they joined battle in 
such sort that many were slain and many overthrown, on one 
side and on the other, and so great was the din of strokes and 
of tambours that none could hear what another said ; and they 
smote away cruelly, without rest or respite. 

Xow it came to pass in this battle that the Infante Diego 
Gonzalez encountered a Moor of Africa who was of great stature 
and full valiant withal, and this Moor came fiercely against him; 
and when the Infante saw how fiercely he was coming, he 
turned his back and fled. No one beheld this but Felez Munoz 
the nephew of the Cid, who was a squire ; he set himself against 
the Moor with his lance under his arm, and gave him such a 
thrust, in the breast, that the streamer of the lance came out 
all red with blood between his shoulders, and he downed with 
the dead man and took his horse by the bridle, and began to 
call the Infante Diego Gonzalez. When the Infante heard him- 
self called by his name he turned his head to see who called 
him, and when he saw that it was his cousin Felez Munoz, he 
turned and awaited him. And Felez Munoz said, Take this 
horse, cousin Diego Gonzalez, and say that you killed the Moor; 
nobodv shall ever, know otherwise from me, unless vou ' <nve 



1 88 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

just cause. While they were talking the Cid came up, after an- 
other Moorish knight, whom he reached just as he came up to 
them, and smote him with his sword upon the head, so that 
he split it down to the teeth. When Felez Munoz saw the 
Cid, he said, Sir, your son-in-law Don Diego Gonzalez hath great 
desire to serve and help you in this day's work, and he hath 
just slain a Moor from whom he hath won this horse : and 
this pleased the Cid much, for he weened that it was true. 
And then they all three advanced themselves toward the midst 
of the battle, giving great strokes, and smiting and slaying. Who 
can tell how marvellously the Bishop Don Hieronymo behaved 
himself in this battle, and how well all the rest behaved, each 
in his way, and above all, the Cid Campeador, as the greatest 
and best of all ! nevertheless the power of the Moors was so 
great that they could not drive them to flight, and the busi- 
ness was upon the balance even till the hour of nones. Many 
were the Christians who died that day among the foot-soldiers ; 
and the dead. Moors and Christians together, were so many, 
that the horses could scant move among their bodies. But after 
the hour of nones the Cid and his people smote the Moors so 
sorely that they could no longer stand against them, and it 
pleased God and the good fortune of the Cid that they turned 
their backs; and the Christians followed, hewing them down, 
and smiting and slaying: and they tarried not to lay hands on 
those whom they felled, but went on in pursuit as fast as they 
could. Then might you have seen cords broken, and stakes 
plucked up as the Christians came to the tents ; my Cid's people 
drove King Bucar's through their camp, and many an arm with 
its sleeve-mail was lopt off, and many a head with its helmet 
fell to the ground ; and horses ran about on all sides without 
riders. Seven full miles did the pursuit continue. And while 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 89 

they were thus following their flight the Cid set eyes upon King 
Bucar, and made at him to strike him with the sword, and the 
Moorish King knew him when he saw him coming. Turn this 
way, Bucar, cried the Campeador, you who came from beyond 
sea, to see the Cid with the long beard. We must greet each 
other and cut out a friendship ! God confound such friend- 
ship, cried King Bucar, and turned his bridle, and began to fly 
toward the sea, and the Cid after him, having great desire to 
reach him. But King Bucar had a good horse and a fresh, 
and the Cid went spurring Bavieca, who had had hard work 
that day, and he came near his back ; and when they were nigh 
unto the ships, and the Cid saw that he could not reach him, 
he darted his sword at him, and struck him between the shoulders; 
and King Bucar being badly wounded rode into the sea, and got 
to a boat, and the Cid alighted and picked up his sword. And 
his people came up, hewing down the Moors before them, and 
the Moors in their fear of death ran into the sea, so that twice 
as many died in the water as in the battle: nevertheless so many 
were they who were slain in the field, that they were thought 
to be seventeen thousand persons and upward : but a greater 
number died in the sea. And so many were they who were 
taken prisoner, that it was a wonder ; and of the twenty and nine 
kings who came with King Bucar, seventeen were slain. And 
when the Cid saw that of the Moors some had gotten to the 
ships and the others were slain or taken, he returned toward 
their tents. 

My Cid Ruydiez the Campeador returned from the slaughter ; 
the hood of his mail was thrown back, and the coif upon his 
head bore the marks of it. And when he saw his sons-in-law 
the Infantes of Carrion, he rejoiced over them, and said to them 
to do them honour, Come here, my sons, J[or by your help we 



I9O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

have conquered in this battle. Presently Alvar Fanez came up: 
the shield which hung from his neck was all battered ; more 
than twenty Moors had he slain, and the blood was running 
from his wrist to his elbow. Thanks be to God, said he, and 
to the Father who is on high, and to you, Cid, we have won 
the day. All these spoils are yours and your vassals. Then they 
spoiled the field, where they found great riches in gold, and in 
silver, and in pearls, and in precious stones, and in sumptuous 
tents, and in horses, and in oxen, which were so many that it 
was a wonder. The poorest man among the Christians was 
made full rich that day. So great was the spoil that six hun- 
dred horses fell to the Cid as his fifth, besides sumpter beasts 
and camels, and twelve hundred prisoners; and of the other 
things which were taken no man can give account, nor of the 
treasure which the Cid won that day in the Campo del Quarto. 
God be praised ! said the Campeador . . once I was poor, 
but now am I rich in lands and in possessions, and in gold 
and in honour. And Moors and Christians both fear me. Even 
in Morocco, among their Mosques, do they fear lest I should 
set upon them some night. Let them fear it ! I shall not go 
to seek them, but here I will be in Valencia, and by God's 
help they shall pay me tribute. 




o^ 1 




The Infantes of Carrion beat their wives, the 
daughters of my Cid, and leave them for dead 
in the Oak-wood of Cor pes — Felez Munoz 

rescues them and bears word of the outrage to Valencia — The King summons his 

Cortes to try the Infantes. 

Great joy was made in Valencia for this victory, and 
great was the joy of the Infantes of Carrion; five thousand 
marks came to them for their portion of the spoil. And when 
they saw themselves so rich, they and their uncle Suero Gon- 
zalez took counsel together, and confirmed the wicked resolu- 
tion which they had taken. 

One day the companions of the Cid were talking before 
him of this victory, and they were saying who were the young 
knights that had demeaned themselves well in the battle and in 
the pursuit, and who had not ; but no mention was made of 
the Infantes; for though some there were who whispered to 
each other concerning them, none would speak ill of them before 
the Cid. And the Infantes saw this, and took counsel with their 
uncle, who ought not to have given them the evil counsel that 
he did, and they determined forthwith to put their wicked de- 



I C)2 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

sign in execution. So they went before the Cid, and Ferran 
Gonzalez, having enjoined silence, began to say thus. Cid, thou 
knovvest well the good tie which there is between thee and 
us, for we hold thee in the place of a father, and thou didst 
receive us as thy sons on the day when thou gavest us thy 
daughters to be our wives ; and from that day we have alway 
abode with thee, and have alway endeavoured to do that which 
was to thy service ; and if we have at any time failed therein 
it hath not been wilfully, but for lack of better understanding 
Now inasmuch as it is long time since we departed from Cas- 
tile, from our father and from our mother, and because neither 
we know how it fares with them, nor they how it fares with 
us, we would now, if you and Dona Ximena should so think 
good, return unto them, and take our wives with us: so shall 
our father and our mother and our kinsmen see how honour- 
ably we are mated, and how greatly to our profit, and our 
wives shall be put in possession of the towns which we have 
given them for their dower, and shall see what is to be the 
inheritance of the children whom they may have. And when- 
soever you shall call upon us, we will be ready to come and 
do you service. Then the Cid made answer, weening that this 
was spoken without deceit, My sons, I am troubled at what 
ye say, for when ye take away my daughters ye take my very 
heart-strings : nevertheless it is fitting that ye do as ye have 
said. Go when ye will, and I will give unto you such gifts 
that it shall be known in Gallicia and in Castile and in Leon, 
with what riches I have sent my sons-in-law home. 

When the Cid had made this reply, he rose from his 
seat and went to Dona Ximena his wife, and spake with her 
and with Alvar Fanez, and told them what had passed with 
his sons-in-law, and what answer he had given. Greatly was 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 93 

Dona Ximena troubled at this, and Alvar Fanez also, that 
he had consented to what they asked ; and she said, I do not 
think it wisely done to let them take our daughters from 
us, and carry them into another country ; for these our sons-in- 
law are traitorous and false at heart, and if I read them aright 
they will do some dishonour to our daughters, when there 
will be none there to call them to account. And Alvar Fanez 
was of the same mind ; but the Cid was displeased at this, 
and marvelled greatly at what they said ; and he bade them 
speak no more thereof, for God would not let it be so, . . 
neither were the Infantes of such a race as that they should 
do this ; neither, quoth he, would it come into their minds to 
do it, if only because onr Lord King Don Alfonso was he who 
made the marriage ; but if the Devil should tempt them, and 
they should commit this wickedness, dearly would it cost them ! 
So the Infantes of Carrion made ready for their departure, 
and there was a great stir in Valencia. And the two sisters 
Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, came and knelt before the Cid 
and before Dona Ximena their mother, and said, You send us 
to the lands of Carrion, and we must fulfil your command ; 
now then give us your blessing, and let us have some of your 
people with us in Carrion, we beseech you. And the Cid em- 
braced them and kissed them, and the mother kissed them and 
embraced them twice as much, and they gave them their bless- 
ing, and their daughters kissed their hands. And the Cid gave 
unto his sons-in-law great store of cloth of gold, and of serge, 
and of wool, and an hundred horses bridled and saddled, and 
an hundred mules with all their trappings, and ten cups of gold, 
and an hundred vessels of silver, and six hundred marks of 
silver in dishes and trenchers and other things. When all this 
was done they took their departure and went out of Valencia. 



194 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and the Cid rode out a long league with them. He looked 
at the birds, and the augury was bad, and he thought that 
these marriages would not be without some evil. And his heart 
smote him, and he began to think on what Dona Ximena had 
said, and to fear lest evil should befall him from these sons- 
in-law, for the manner of their speech was not as it was wont 
to be. Where art thou my nephew, where art thou Felez 
Munoz ? thou art the cousin of my daughters, said he, both 
in heart and in soul. Go with them even unto Carrion, and 
see the possessions which are given them, and come back with 
tidings thereof. And Felez Munoz said that he would do this. 
And the Cid bade him salute the Moor Abengalvon in his 
name, with whom they should tarry a night at Molina, and 
bid him do service unto his daughters, and his sons-in-law, and 
accompany them as far as Medina ; and for all that he shall 
do, said the Cid, I will give him good guerdon. And when 
the ladies came to take their leave of their father the Cid, 
and of their mother Dona Ximena, great were the lamentations 
on both sides, as if their hearts had divined the evil which 
was to come ; and the Cid strove to comfort them, saying, 
that he should alway think of them, and would maintain them 
in good estate : and he gave them his blessing and turned back 
toward Valencia, and they went their way with their husbands, 
and that parting was like plucking the nail from the flesh. 

So the Infantes of Carrion went their way, and they took 
up their lodging at Villa Taxo. And on the morrow they 
took the road and rested at Quintana. And when Abengalvon 
knew that the daughters of the Cid were coming, he went out 
joyfully from Molina to meet them, and pitched tents for them 
in the field, and had food brought there in abundance. God, 
how well he served them ! and on the morrow the Moor gave 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 95 

full rich and noble gifts to the daughters of his Lord the Cid, 
and to each of the Infantes he gave a goodly horse. And he 
took horse himself and rode on with them, having two hundred 
knights in his company. They crossed the mountains of Luzon 
and passed Arbuxuelo, and came to Salon, and the Moor lodged 
them in the place which is called Ansarera ; all this he did for 
the love of the Cid Campeador. Now the Infantes seeing the 
riches which this Moor had with him, took counsel together 
for treason, and said, Lo, now if we could slay this Moor 
Abengalvon, we should possess all these riches as safely as if 
we were in Carrion, and the Cid could never take vengeance. 
And a Moor who understood the Latin of the country, heard 
them and knew what they said, and he went to Abengalvon, 
and said unto him, Acaiaz, that is to say, Sire, take heed, 
for I heard the Infantes of Carrion plotting to kill thee. Aben- 
galvon the Moor was a bold Baron, and when this was told 
him, he went with his two hundred men before the Infantes, 
and what he said to them did not please them. Infantes of 
Carrion, he said, tell me, what have I done ? I have served 
ye without guile, and ye have taken counsel for my death. 
If it were not for the sake of my Cid, never should you reach 
Carrion ! I would carry back his daughters to the loyal Cam- 
peador, and so deal with you that it should be talked over 
the whole world. But I leave ye for traitors as ye are. Dona 
Elvira and Dona Sol, I go with your favour. God grant that 
this marriage may please your father ! Having said this, the 
good Moor returned to Molina. 

They went on by Valdespino, and by Parra, and Berrocal, 
and Val de Endrinas, and they left Medina Celi on the right, 
and crossed the plain of Barahona, and passed near Berlanga ; 
and they crossed the Douro by ii ford below the town, and 



I96 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

rode on and came into the Oak-wood of Corpes. The moun- 
tains were high, and the trees thick and lofty, and there 
were wild beasts in that place. And they came to a green 
lawn in the midst of that oak forest, where there was a foun- 
tain of clear water, and there the Infantes gave order that 
their tent should be pitched ; and they passed the night there, 
making show of love to their wives, which they badly ful- 
filled when the sun was risen, for this was the place where 
they thought to put them to shame. Early in the morning 
they ordered the sumpter beasts to be laden, and the tent 
struck, and they sent all their company on, so that none re- 
mained with them, neither man nor woman, but they and 
their wives were left alone that they might disport with them 
at pleasure. And Dona Elvira said to her husband, Why 
wouldst thou that we should remain alone in this place? And 
he said, Hold thy peace, and thou shalt see ! And the In- 
fantes tore .away the mantles from off their wives, and the 
garments which they wore, save only their inner garment, and 
they held them by the hair of their head with one hand, and 
with the other took the girths of their horses. And the 
women said, Don Diego and Don Ferrando, ye have strong 
swords and of sharp edge ; the one is called Colada and the 
other Tizona; cut off our heads and we shall become martyrs!' 
But set not this evil example upon us, for whatever shame 
ye do unto us shall be to your own dishonour. But the In- 
fantes heeded not what they said, and beat them cruelly with 
the saddle-girths, and kicked them with their spurs, so that 
their garments were torn and stained with blood. Oh, if the 
Cid Campeador had come upon them at that hour ! And the 
women cried out, and called upon God and Holy Mary to 
have mercy upon them ; but the more they cried, the more 




The In/antes beat the Cid' s Daughters. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 1 99 

cruelly did those Infantes beat and kick them, till they were 
covered with blood, and swooned away. Then the Infantes 
took their mantles and their cloaks, and their furs of ermine 
and other garments, and left them for dead, saying, Lie there, 
daughters of the Cid of Bivar, for it is not fitting that ye 
should be our wives, nor that ye should have your dower in 
the lands of Carrion ! We shall see how your father will 
avenge you, and we have now avenged ourselves for the shame 
he did us with the Lion. And they rode away as they said 
this, leaving them to the mountain birds and to the beasts of 
the forest. Oh, if the Cid Campeador had come upon them 
at that hour ! And the Infantes rode on, glorying in what 
they had done. 

When the Infantes, before they committed this great cru- 
elty, ordered their company to ride forward, Felez Munoz the 
nephew of the Cid rode on with the rest : but this order no- 
thing pleased him, and he was troubled at heart, insomuch 
that he went aside from his companions, and struck into the 
forest, and there waited privily till he should see his cousins 
come, or learn what the Infantes had done to them. Presently 
he saw the Infantes, and heard what they said to each other. 
Certes if they had espied him he could not have escaped 
death. But they pricked on not seeing him, and he rode back 
to the fountain, and there he found the women lying senseless, 
and in such plight as ye have heard. And he made great 
lamentation over them, saying, Never can it please God that 
ye my cousins should receive such dishonour ! God and St. 
Mary give them who have done this an evil guerdon ! for ye 
never deserved this, neither are ye of a race to deserve that 
this or any other evil should betide ye ! By this time the 
women began to come to themselves, but they could not speak, 



200 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

for their hearts were breaking. And Felez Munoz called out 
to them, Cousins ! Cousins ! Dona Elvira ! Dona Sol ! for the 
love of God rouse yourselves that we may get away before 
night comes, or the wild beasts will devour us ! and they came 
to themselves and began to open their eyes, and saw that he 
who spake to them was Felez Munoz : and he said to them, 
For the love of God take heart and let us be gone ; for the 
Infantes will soon seek for me, and if God do not befriend 
us we shall all be slain. And Dona Sol said to him in her 
great pain, Cousin, for all that our father hath deserved at 
your hands, give us water. Felez jMufioz took his hat and 
filled it with water and gave it to them. And he comforted 
them and bade them take courage, and besought them to bear 
up. And he placed them upon his horse, and covered them 
both with his cloak, and led them through the oak forest, into 
the thickest part thereof, and there he made a bed of leaves 
and of grass, and laid them on it, and covered them with his 
cloak, and he sat down by them and began to weep, for he 
knew not what he should do; for he had no food, and if he 
went to seek it, great danger was there because they were 
wounded and bloody, that the wild beasts and the birds of the 
mountain would attack them ; and on the other hand, unless 
he went to his uncle the Cid, to tell him of this wickedness, 
none other knew what had been done, and thus there would 
be no vengeance taken. 

While Felez Munoz was in this great trouble the Infantes 
joined their company, and their spurs were bloody and their 
hands also from the wounds which they had given their wives. 
And when their people saw them in this plight, and that their 
wives were not with them, they weened that some wickedness 
had been done ; and all they who were of good heart and un- 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 201 

derstanding among them went apart to the number of an 
hundred, with one who was named Pero Sanchez; and he 
spake unto them, saying, Friends, these Infantes have done a 
foul deed upon their wives, the daughters of our Lord the Cid; 
and they are our liege Ladies, for we did homage- to them 
before their father, and accepted them as such ; and the Cid 
made us knights that we should discharge the duty which we 
owe to them. Now then, it behoveth us that we arm our- 
selves, and demand of the Infantes what they have done with 
our ladies, and require them at their hands. And if they will 
not deliver them to us, then will we fight against them even 
to death ; for thus shall we do right, and otherwise we shall 
be ill spoken of, and not worthy to live in the world. This 
was the counsel which Pero Sanchez gave, and they all held 
it good and did accordingly. And the Infantes, when they 
saw them coming and heard their demand, were greatly afraid, 
and they said, Go to the fountain in the Oak-forest of Corpes, 
and there ye may find them ; we left them safe and sound, 
and no harm have we done unto them ; but we would not 
take them with us. Ill have ye done, replied those knights, to 
forsake such wives, and the daughters of such a father, and ill 
will ye fare for it! And from henceforward, we renounce all 
friendship with ye, and defy ye for the Cid, and for ourselves, 
and for all his people. And the Infantes could not reply. 
And when they saw that the Infantes did not answer, they said, 
Get ye gone for traitors and false caitiffs; there is no way in 
the world by which ye can escape from the enemies whom ye 
have now made ! But for all this the Infantes made no reply, 
and went their way. 

Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back to the 
green lawn in the Oak-forest, where they had left the dames; 



202 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and when they came to the fountain they saw that there was 
blood round about, but the dames were not there ; and they 
were greatly troubled, and knew not where to seek them. And 
they went about the forest seeking them, calling them aloud 
and making great lamentation for the ill that had befallen, and 
also because they could not find them. Now Felez Munoz 
and the women heard their voices, and were in great fear, for 
they weened that it was the Infantes and their company, who 
were returned with intent to kill them ; and in their great fear 
they remained still, and would fain have been far from that 
place. So Pero Sanchez and they who were with him went 
about seeking them in vain. Then spake up a knight called 
Martin Ferrandez, who was a native of Burgos, saying, Friends, 
it boots us to turn back from hence and follow after the 
Infantes, and do battle with them, even unto death, because 
of this wickedness which thev have committed, rather than 
return to the Cid ; for if we do not strive to take vengeance, 
we are not worthy to appear before him. And if, peradven- 
ture, we cannot come up with them upon the road, let us go 
before the King Don Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul 
deed, and tell him the truth thereof, to the intent that he may 
order justice to be done for such a thing ; for certes, greatly 
will he be troubled when he knoweth it, and greatly will he be 
incensed against them, inasmuch as he it was who besought the 
Cid to give them his daughters to wife. And we will not de- 
part from the King's house, nor take unto ourselves any other 
Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter. 
And all those knights held this counsel to be good and agreed 
to do so. And they took their way and followed after the In- 
fantes as fast as they could, taking no rest ; but the Infantes had 
ridden away full speed, and they could not overtake them. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 203 

And when they saw this they went their way to King Don 
Alfonso who was at Palencia, and they came before him and 
kissed his hands, and then with sorrowfui hearts told him of the 
evil which had befallen the Cid, in this dishonour done unto 
his daughters by the Infantes of Carrion. And when the King 
heard it he was grievously offended, as one who had great part 
therein ; and he said unto them, It must needs be, that before 
many days we shall receive tidings of this from the Cid Cam- 
peador, and then upon his complaint we will enter into the 
business in such wise, that every one shall have justice. Then 
Pero Sanchez and the other knights kissed the King's hands 
for what he had said; and they abode in his court, waiting 
tidings from the Cid. 

When Felez Mufioz saw that the voices which they heard 
had ceased, he went after awhile to a village which was at 
hand, to seek food for the dames and for himself; and in this 
manner he kept them for seven days. And in that village he 
found a good man, who was a husbandman, and who lived a 
godly life with his wife and with his daughters ; and this good 
man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had lodged in his 
house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when 
Felez Munoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good 
a man he was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told 
him what had befallen those dames, and how he had hidden 
them in the wood. And when the good man heard it he had 
great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy man in that 
he could do them service ; and he took two asses and went 
with Felez Munoz to the place where they were hidden, and 
took with him his two sons, who were young men. And when 
the dames saw them they marvelled who they might be, and 
were ashamed and would have hidden themselves; but they 



204 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

could not. And the good man bent his knees before them, 
weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your 
father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served 
him the best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. 
And now, this young man, who saith his name is Felez Mu- 
fioz, hath told me the great wrong and dishonour which your 
husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done unto you. And 
when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the great 
desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come 
hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, 
to my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, 
where the beasts would devour you. And when you are there, 
I and my wife and my daughters will serve you the best we 
can; and you may then send this squire to your father, and we 
will keep you secretly and well till your father shall send for 
you; this place is not fit for you, for you would die of cold 
and hunger. When the good man had said this, Dona Sol 
turned to Dona Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith 
well, and it is better that we should go with him than remain 
and die here, for so shall we see the vengeance which I trust 
in God our father will give us. So they gave thanks to God, 
and to that good man. And he set them upon his beasts, and 
led them to the village, when it was now night; and they 
entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming 
save the good man and his family, whom he charged that they 
should tell no man thereof. And there his wife and his daugh- 
ters ministered unto them with pure good will. 

Then these dames wrote a letter to their father the Cid, 
which was a letter of credence, that he should believe the 
tidings which Felez Munoz would deliver, and they wrote it 
with the blood from their wounds. And Felez Munoz went 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 205 

his way toward Valencia; and when he came to Santesteban he 
spake with Diego Tellez, who had been of the company of 
Alvar Fahez, and told him what had befallen. He, so soon as 
he heard this great villany, took beasts and seemly raiment, and 
went for those dames, and brought them from the house of that 
good man to Santesteban, and did them all honour that they 
could. They of Santesteban were always gentle men : and they 
comforted the daughters of the Cid, and there they were healed 
of their hurts. In the mean time Felez Munoz proceeded on his 
journey; and it came to pass that he met Alvar Fafiez Minaya 
and Pero Bermudez on the way, going to the King with a 
present which the Cid had sent him ; and the present was 
this, . . two hundred horses, from those which he had won in 
the battle of Quarto from King Bucar, and an hundred Moor- 
ish prisoners, and many good swords, and many rich saddles. 
And as Alvar Fafiez and Pero Bermudez rode on in talk, they 
thought that it was he, and marvelled greatly ; and he when 
he drew nigh began to tear his hair, and make great lamenta- 
tion, so that they were greatly amazed. And they alighted, ask- 
ing him what it was. And he related unto them all that 
had befallen. But when they heard this, who can tell the lamen- 
tation which they made? And they took counsel together what 
they should do, and their counsel was this, . . that they should 
proceed to the King, and demand justice at his hands in the 
name of the Cid, and that Felez Munoz should proceed to 
Valencia. So he told them the name of the good man with 
whom he had left the dames, and the place where he dwelt, 
and also how he had spoken with Diego Tellez at Santesteban, 
and then they parted. 

Alvar Fafiez and Pero Bermudez held on their way, and 
came to the King, whom they found in Valladolid. And he 



206 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

received them right well, and asked them for the Cid, and they 
kissed his hand and said, Sir, the Cid commends himself to your 
grace ; he hath had a good affair with King Bucar of Morocco, 
and hath defeated him, and nine and twenty Kings who came 
with him, in the field of Quarto, and great booty did he gain 
there in gold and in silver, and in horses and tents and cattle ; 
and he hath slain many and taken many prisoners. And in ac- 
knowledgment of you as his natural Lord, he sends you two 
hundred horses, and an hundred black Moors, and many rich 
saddles and precious swords, beseeching you to accept them at 
his hand, in token of the desire he hath to do service to God 
and to you, maintaining the faith of Jesus Christ. And King 
Don Alfonso made answer and said, that he took the present 
of the Cid with a right will, as of the truest and most hon- 
ourable vassal that ever Lord had : and he gave order to his 
people to receive it, and bade Alvar Faflez and Pero Bermudez 
seat themselves at his feet. After awhile Alvar Fanez rose and 
said, Sir, when we departed from the Cid we left him in great 
honour and prosperity ; but on our way we met a squire whft 
is his nephew, by name Felez Munoz, and he had told us the 
evil and the dishonour which both we and the Cid endure in 
the villany which the Infantes of Carrion have committed upon 
his daughters. You, Sir, know how great this villany hath been, 
and how nearly it toucheth you, for the marriage was of your 
appointment, and I gave them by your command to the Infantes. 
Pero Sanchez hath told you that the dames were dead, as he 
believed them to be ; but we, Sir, know that they are yet alive, 
having been grievously hurt and wounded with bridles and spurs 
and stripped of their garments, . . in which plight Felez Munoz 
found them. Certes such a thing as this cannot please God 
t in Heaven, and ought to offend you who are a Lord here in 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 207 

your own realm. Now therefore we beseech you that you take 
justice for yourself, and give us and the Cid ours. And let not 
the Cid be dishonoured in your time, for blessed be God, he 
hath never been dishonoured yet, but hath gone on alway ad- 
vancing in honour since King Don Ferrando your father knight- 
ed him in Coimbra. To this the King made answer and said, 
God knoweth the trouble which I resent for this dishonour 
which hath been done to the Cid, and the more I hear of it 
the more doth it trouble me, and many reasons are there why 
it should ; for my own sake, and for the sake of the Cid, and 
for the sake of his daughters; but since they are yet alive 
the evil is not so great, for as they have wrongfully put to 
shame, nothing meriting such a treatment, they may be rightfully 
avenged, as my Cortes shall determine. Moreover it is a grief 
to me that my vassals the Infantes of Carrion should have erred 
so badly and with such cruelty ; but since it hath been so I 
cannot but do justice. I hold it good therefore to summon 
them to my Cortes, which I will assemble for this matter in 
Toledo, and the time assigned them shall be three months from 
this day; and. do ye tell the Cid to come there with such of 
his people as he shall think good. Glad were Alvar Fafiez and 
Pero Bermudez of this reply, and they kissed his hand, and 
dispeeded themselves. And the King ordered mules to be given 
them for the dames, with right noble saddles and trappings of 
gold and cloth of gold and of wool, with menever and gris. 
Then Alvar Fafiez and Pero Bermudez went their way, and 
Pero Sanchez and his company departed with them. They went 
up Val de Esgueva to Pehafiel, and by Roa and Arrueco, and 
they entered the oak-forest of Corpes, and Pero Sanchez showed 
the place beside the fountain where the villany had been com- 
mitted ; and they made such lamentation there as if they had 



2o8 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

seen the dames lie dead before them. Then rode they to the 
village where the good man dwelt, and went to his dwelling, 
and good guerdon did they give unto him for the service which 
he had done, so that he was full well requited. And they took 
with them the two sons and the two daughters of the good 
man, that they might recompense them for the good deeds of 
their father ; and the dames gave them in marriage, and made 
them full rich, and held them even as brothers and as sisters, 
because of the service which they had received from them. 
When it was known at Santesteban that Minaya was coming 
for his kinswomen, the men of that town welcomed him and 
his company, and they brought him in payment the efurcion, 
that is to say, the supper-money, and it was full great. But 
Minaya would not accept it at their hands, and he thanked 
them and said, Thanks, men of Santesteban, for what ye have 
done, and my Cid the Campeador will thank ye, as I do, and 
God will give ye your guerdon. Then went they to visit their 
kinswomen, and when they saw the dames, who can tell the 
great lamentation which was made on both sides ? albeit that 
they rejoiced to see each other. And Minaya said unto them, 
By God, cousins, He knoweth the truth, and your father and 
mother know it also, . . I misdoubted this when you went away 
with those false ones; and it grieved me when your father said 
that he had given his consent that ye should go, and your 
mother gainsaid it also ; but we could not prevail, for he said 
he had consented. Howbeit, since ye are alive, of evils let 
us be thankful for the least ; you have lost one marriage, 
and may gain a better, and the day will come when we shall 
avenge ye. That night they rested at Santesteban, and on the 
morrow they set forward and took the road toward Atienza, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 2O9 

and the men of Santesteban escorted them as far as the river 
Damor, to do them pleasure. And they passed Alcoceba, and 
went on to the King's Ford, and there took up their lodging 
at the Casa de Berlanga. On the morrow they lodged at Me- 
dina Celi, and from thence they went to Molina, and Abengalvon 
came out with a right good will to welcome them, for love 
of the Cid, and he did them all the honour that he could. 
And it was accorded between them that the dames should rest 
there some days, because of their weakness, and that they should 
send and let the Cid know what had been done. 

Then Pero Bermudez went on to Valencia, and Alvar Fanez 
and the rest of his company abode with the dames in Molina. 
And when Pero Bermudez arrived he found the Cid Ruydiez 
just risen with his chivalry from dinner, and when the Cid saw 
him he welcomed him right well ; howbeit he could not refrain 
from weeping ; for before this Felez Mufioz had told him all. 
And he stroked his beard and said, Thanks be to Christ the 
Lord of this world, by this beard which no one hath ever cut, 
the Infantes of Carrion shall not triumph in this! And he 
began to take comfort, hearing how King Don Alfonso had 
appointed the Cortes. And he took Pero Bermudez by the 
hand and led him to Dona Ximena, who wept greatly at seeing 
him, and said, Ah, Pero Bermudez, what tidings bringest thou 
of my daughters ? And he comforted her and said, Weep not, 
Lady, for I left them alive and well at Molina, and Alvar Fanez 
with them ; by God's blessing you shall have good vengeance 
for themj Then the Cid seated himself near his wife, and Pero 
Bermudez took his seat before them, and told them all that 
he had done, and how the King had summoned them to the 
Cortes at Toledo. And he said unto the Cid, My uncle and 
Lord, I know not what to say, but i]l is my luck that I could 



2IO THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

not take vengeance before I returned here ; and certes, if I could 
have found them I would have died, or have completed it : but 
they when they had done this villany dared not appear before 
the King, neither in his Court, and therefore he hath issued 
this summons to them that they should come. Manifestly may 
it be seen that the King well inclineth to give you justice, if 
you fail not to demand it. Now then I beseech you tarry 
not, but let us to horse and confront them and accuse them, 
for this is not a thing to be done leisurely. And the Cid 
answered and said, Chafe not thyself, Pero Bermudez, for. the 
man who thinketh by chafing to expedite his business, leaveth 
off worse than he began. Be you certain, that if I die not 
I shall take vengeance upon those traitors, and I trust in God 
not to die till I have taken it. Now therefore, give me no 
more anger than I feel in my own heart, for Felez Mufioz 
hath given me enough. I thank my Lord King Don Alfonso for 
the answer which he gave you, and for appointing the Cortes, 
and in such guise will I appear there as shall gall them who 
wish ill to me. God willing, we will take our departure in 
good time! Do you now return to Molina, and bring on 
my daughters, for I would fain see them ; and I will talk with 
them that they may tell me the whole truth of this thing, that 
I may know the whole when I go to the Court of the King 
to demand vengeance. 

Pero Bermudez returned the next day to Molina, where 
Abengalvon had done great honour to the dames, and to Alvar 
Fafiez, and all that were with him. And they departed from 
Molina, and Abengalvon with them, for he would not leave 
them till he had brought them to Valencia to his Lord the 
Cid. And when the Cid knew that they were drawing nigh 
he rode out two leagues to meet them, and when they saw 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 211 

him they made great lamentation, they and all his company, 
not only the Christians but the Moors also who were in his 
service, But my Cid embraced his daughters and kissed them 
both, and smiled and said, Ye are come, my children, and God 
will heal you ! I accepted this marriage for you, but I could 
do no other; by God's pleasure ye shall be better mated here- 
after. And when they reached Valencia and went into the 
Alcazar to their mother Dona Ximena, who can tell the lam- 
entation which was made by the mother over her daughters, 
and the daughters with their mother, and by the women of 
their household. Three days did this great lamentation last. 
And the Cid thanked Abengalvon, his vassal, for the honour 
which he had shown to his children and their company, and 
promised to protect him from all who should come against him. 
And Abengalvon returned to Molina well pleased. 





The Cid takes his seat in the assembled Cortes 
upon his ivory chair and demands from 
the Infantes his swords Tizona and Colada 
and the dower which he gave with his 
daughters — The Alcaldes decide that the 
demand is just and the Infantes are forced to viake resti- 
tution — The Cid then attaints them before the King as false 
traitors and cowards and challenges them to mortal combat — 
Pero Bcrmudez, Martin Antolinez, and Muno Gustioz are 
appointed to do battle zvith them on his behalf three tveeks 
fro?n that day' — Messengers from the Kings of Navarre and 
Aragon come asking the daughters of the Cid in marriage 
for their sons. 

My Cid the Campeador made ready to appear at the 
Cortes in Toledo, and he left the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and 
Martin Pelaez the Asturian, to command in Valencia, and five 
hundred knights with them, all hidalgos. And he spake with 
his daughters, and commanded and besought them to tell him 
the whole truth, how this matter had been, and not say the 
thing which was false ; and they did accordingly, and related 
unto him all, even as it had befallen them. And the Cid de- 
parted from Valencia, and with him went Alvar Fanez Minaya 
with two hundred knights, and Pero Bermudez with one hun- 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 213 

dred, and Martin Antolinez with fifty, and Martin Fernandez 
with other fifty, and Pelez Ferruz and Benito Sanchez with 
fifty each ; . . these were five hundred knights. And there 
went fifty with Martin Garcia and Martin Salvadores, and fifty 
with Pero Gonsalvez and Martin Munoz, and Diego Sanchez 
of Arlanza went with fifty, and Don Nuno he who colonized 
Cubiella, and Alvar Bermudez he who colonized Osma, went 
with forty, and Gonzalo Munoz of Orbaneja, and Muno Ravia, 
and Yvahez Cornejo with sixty, and Muho Fernandez the 
Lord of Monteforte, and Gomez Fernandez he who colonized 
Parapliega with sixty ; and Don Garcia de Roa and Serrazin 
his brother, Lord of Aza, with ninety; and Antolin Sanchez 
of Soria took with him forty knights who were his children 
or his kin : . . nine hundred knights were they in all. And 
there went with them five hundred esquires on foot, all hidal- 
gos, beside those who were bred in his household, and beside 
other footmen, who were many in number. All these went 
well clad in right good garments, and with good horses, to 
serve the Cid both in the Cortes and in war. 

King Don Alfonso made no delay, but sent out his let- 
ters through Leon and Santiago, to the Portuguese and the 
Galicians, and they of Carrion, and the Castilians, that he would 
hold a Cortes in Toledo at the end of seven weeks, and that 
they who did not appear should no longer be accounted his 
vassals. At this greatly were the Infantes of Carrion troubled, 
for they feared the coming of my Cid the Campeador. And 
they took counsel with their kin and prayed the King that he 
would hold them excused from that Cortes ; and the Kins: 
made answer, that nothing but God should excuse them from 
it, for the Campeador was coming to demand justice against 
them, and he, quoth the King, who- will not appear shall quit 



214 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

my kingdoms. So when they saw that they must needs appear, 
they took counsel with the Count Don Garcia, the enemy of 
my Cid, who always wished him ill, and they went with the 
greatest company that they could assemble, thinking to dismay 
my Cid the Campeador. And they arrived before him. 

When my Cid drew nigh unto Toledo, he sent Alvar 
Fafiez forward to kiss the King's hand, and let him wit that 
he should be there that night. When the King heard this it 
rejoiced his heart, and he took horse and went out with a 
great company to meet him who was born in happy hour; 
and there went with him his sons-in-law, the Count Don Anr- 
rich, and, the Count Don Remond ; this .one was the father of 
the good Emperor. When they came in sight, the Cid dis- 
mounted and fell to the ground, and would have abased him- 
self to honour his Lord, but the King cried out to him and 
said, By St. Isidro this must not be to-day ! Mount, Cid, or 
I shall not be well pleased ! I welcome you with heart and 
soul ; . . and my heart is grieved for your grief. God send 
that the court be honoured by you ! Amen, said my Cid the 
Campeador, and he kissed his hand, and afterward saluted him. 
And the Cid said, I thank God that I see you, Sir; and he 
humbled himself to Count Don Anrrich, and Count Don Re- 
mond, and the others, and said, God save all our friends, and 
chiefly you, Sir ! my wife Dona Ximena kisses your hand, and 
my daughters also, that this thing which hath befallen us may 
be found displeasing unto you. And the King said, That will 
it be, unless God prevent. So they rode toward Toledo. And 
the King saith unto him, I have ordered you to be lodged in 
my Palaces of Galiana, that you may be near me. And the 
Cid answered, Gramercy, Sir! God grant you long life and 
happy, but in your Palaces there is none who should be lodged 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 215 

save you. When you hold your Cortes let it be in those Pal- 
aces of Galiana, for there is better room there than in the 
Alcazar. I will not cross the Tagus to-night, but will .pass the 
night in St. Servans on this side, and hold a vigil there. To- 
morrow I will enter the city, and be in the court before din- 
ner. The King said that it pleased him well, and he returned 
into Toledo. And the Cid went into the Church of St. Ser- 
vans, and ordered candles to be placed upon the altar, for he 
would keep a vigil there ; and there he remained with Minaya 
and the other good ones, praying to the Lord, and talking in 
private. The tents of his company were pitched upon the hills 
round about. Any one who beheld them might well have said, 
that it looked like a great host. 

When the King entered the city, he bade his seneschal 
Benito Perez, make ready the Palaces of Galiana for the next 
day, when the Cortes should begin; and he fitted the great Pal- 
ace after this manner. He placed estrados with carpets upon 
the ground, and hung the walls with cloth of gold. And in 
the highest place he placed the royal chair in which the King 
should sit; it was a right noble chair and a rich, which he had 
won in Toledo, and which had belonged to the Kings thereof ; 
and round about it right noble estrados were placed for the 
Counts and honourable men who were come to the Cortes. 
Now the Cid knew how they were fitting up the Palaces of 
Galiana, and he called for a squire, who was a young man, one 
whom he had brought up and in whom he had great trust ; 
he was an hidalgo, and hight Ferran Alfonso: and the Cid 
bade him take his ivory seat which he had won in Valencia 
and which had belonged to the Kings thereof, and place it in the 
Palace, in the best place, near the seat of the King ; and that 
none might hurt or do dishonour unto it, he gave him a - hun- 



2l6 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

dred squires, all hidalgos, to go with him, and ordered them 
not to leave it till he should come there the next day. So 
when they had dined, they made the seat be taken up, and went 
with it to the Palaces of Galiana, and placed it near the seat 
of the King, as the Cid had commanded ; and all that day and 
night they remained there guarding the ivory seat, till the Cid 
should come and take his place thereon ; every one having his 
sword hung from his neck. This was a right noble seat, and 
of subtle work, so that whoso beheld it would say it was the 
seat of a good man, and that it became such a one as the 
Cid. It was covered with cloth of gold, underneath which was 
a cushion. 

On the morrow, after the King had heard mass, he went 
into the Palace of Galiana, where the Cortes was to assemble, 
and the Infantes of Carrion and the other Counts and Ricos- 
omes with him, save the Cid who was not yet come ; and when 
they who did not love the Cid beheld his ivory seat, they be- 
gan to make mock of it* And Count Garcia said to the King, 
I beseech your Grace, tell me, for whom that couch is spread 
beside your seat : for what dame is it made ready ; will she 
come drest in the almexia . . or with white alquinales on her 
head, or after what fashion will she be apparelled ? Sir, a seat 
like that is fit for none but your Grace: give order to take it 
for yourself, or that it be removed. When Ferran Alfonso, who 
was there to guard the ivory seat heard this, he answered and 
said, Count, you talk full foolishly, and speak ill of one against 
whom it behoves you not to talk. He who is to sit upon this 
seat is better than you, or than all your lineage; and he hath 
ever appeared a man to all his enemies, not like a woman as 
you say. If you deny this I will lay hands upon you, and 

* .See Appendix, Note L. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 21 7 

make you acknowledge it before my Lord the King Don Alfonso 
who is here present. And I am of such a race that you can- 
not acquit yourself by saying I am not your peer, and the 
vantage of half your arms I give you ! At these words was 
the King greatly troubled, and the Counts also, and all the 
honourable men who were there present. And Count Garcia who 
was an angry man, wrapt his mantle under his arm, and would 
have struck Ferran Alfonso, saying, Let me get at the boy who 
dares me ! And Ferran Alfonso laid hand upon his sword and 
came forward to meet him, saying, that if it were not for the 
King, he would punish him thereright for the folly which he had 
uttered. But the King seeing that these words went on from 
bad to worse, put them asunder that farther evil might not 
happen, and he said, None of ye have reason to speak thus of 
the seat of the Cid; he won it like a good knight and a 
valiant, as he is. There is not a King in the world who deserves 
this seat better than my vassal the Cid, and the better and more 
honourable he is, the more am I honoured through him. This 
seat he won in Valencia, where it had belonged to the Kings 
thereof; and much gold and silver, and many precious stones 
hath he won ; and many a battle hath he won both against 
Christians and Moors ; and of all the spoil which he hath won, 
he hath alway sent me part, and great presents and full 
rich, such as never other vassal sent to his Lord ; and this he 
hath done in acknowledgment that I am his Lord. Ye who are 
talking here against him, which of ye hath ever sent me such 
gifts as he ? If any one be envious, let him achieve such feats 
as he hath done, and I will seat him with myself to do him 
honour. 

Now the Cid had performed his vigil in the church of 
St. Servan, matins and primes were- said, and mass performed; 



2l8 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and then he made ready to go to the Cortes, and with him 
went Alvar Fanez Minaya, whom he called his right arm, and 
Pero Bermudez, and Muno Gustios, and Martin Antolinez that 
doughty Burgalese, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores, 
and Martin Mufioz, and Felez Munoz the Cid's nephew, and 
Malanda who was a learned man, and Galin Garciez the good 
one of Arragon: these and others made ready to go with him, 
being an hundred of the best of his company. They wore 
vehnezes under their harness, that they may be able to bear 
it, and then their mail, which was as bright as the sun: over 
this they had ermine or other skins, laced tight that the armour 
might not be seen, and under their cloaks, their swords which 
were sweet and sharp. He who was born in happy hour made 
no tarriance; he drew on his legs hose of fine cloth, and put on 
over them shoes which were richly worked. A shirt of ranzal 
he wore which was as white as the sun ; all the fastenings 
were wrought with gold and silver: over this a brial of gold 
tissue; and over this a red skin with points of gold. My Cid 
the Campeador alway wore it. On his head he had a coif of 
scarlet wrought with gold, which was made that none might 
clip the hair of the good Cid. His was a long beard, and he 
bound it with a cord. And he bade Alvar Fanez and Pero 
Bermudez assemble their companions, and when he saw them 
he said, If the Infantes of Carrion should seek a quarrel, where 
I have a hundred such as these I may be well without fear I 
And he said, Let us mount now and go to the Cortes. We, 
go to make one defiance, and peradventure it may be two or 
three, through the folly of those who may stir against us. Ye 
will be ready to aid me, saying and doing as I shall call upon 
ye, alway saving the honour and authority of King Don Alfonso 
our Lord; see now that none of ye say or do aught amiss, 




My Cid lakes his SeaL in the Cortes. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 22 1 

for it would be unseemly. Then called he for his horse, and 
bestrode it, and rode to the Cortes. 

My Cid and his company alighted at the gate of the 
Palaces of Galiana, and he and his people went in gravely, he 
in the midst and his hundred knights round about him. When 
he who was born in happy hour entered, the good King Don 
Alfonso rose up, and the Counts Don Anrrich and Don 
. Remond did the like, and so did all the others, save the curly- 
headed one of Granon, and they who were on the side of the 
Infantes of Carrion. All the others received him with great 
honour, and he said unto the King, Sir, where do you bid me 
sit with these my kinsmen and friends who are come with me? 
And the King made answer, Cid, you are such a one, and have 
passed your time so well to this day, that if you would listen 
to me and be commanded by me, I should hold it good that 
you took your seat with me; for he who hath conquered Kings, 
ought to be seated with Kings. But the Cid answered, That, 
Sir, would not please God, but I will be at your feet: for by 
the favour of the King your father Don Ferrando was I made, 
his creature and the creature of your brother King Don Sancho 
am I, and it behoveth not that he who receiveth bounty should 
sit with him who dispenseth it. And the King answered, Since 
you will not sit with me, sit on your ivory seat, for you won 
it like a good man; and from this day I order that none 
except King or Prelate sit with you, for you have conquered so 
many high-born men, and so many Kings, both Christians and 
Moors, that for this reason there is none who is your peer, or 
ought to be seated with you. Sit therefore like a King and Lord 
upon your ivory seat. Then the Cid kissed the King's hand, 
and thanked him for what he had said, and for the honour 
which he had done him; and he took his seat, and his hundred 



222 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

knights seated themselves round about him. All who were in 
the Cortes sat looking at my Cid and at his long beard which 
he had bound with a cord ; but the Infantes of Carrion could 
not look upon him for shame. 

When they were all seated the King gave command that 
they should be silent ; and when the Cid saw that they were 
all still, he rose and spake after this manner. Sir King Don 
Alfonso, 1 beseech you of your mercy that you would hear me, 
and give command that I should be heard, and that you would 
suffer none to interrupt me, for I am not a man of speech, 
neither know I how to set forth my words, and if they interrupt 
me I shall be worse. Moreover, Sir, give command that none 
be bold enough to utter unseemly words, nor be insolent toward 
me, lest we should come to strife in your presence. Then King 
Don Alfonso rose and said, Hear me, as God shall help you! 
Since I have been King I have held only two Cortes, one in 
Burgos, and one in Carrion. This third I have assembled here 
in Toledo for the love of the Cid, that he may demand justice 
against the Infantes of Carrion for the wrongs which we all know. 
The Counts Don Anrrich and Don Remond shall be Alcaldes 
in this cause ; and these other Counts who are not on either side, 
^ive ye all good heed, for ye are to take cognizance that the right 
may be decreed. And I give order, and forbid any one to speak 
without my command, or to utter aught insolent against the Cid ; 
and I swear by St. Isidro, that whosoever shall disturb the 
Cortes shall lose my love and be banished from the kingdom. 
I am on the side of him who shall be found to have the 
right. Then those Counts who were appointed Alcaldes were 
sworn upon the Holy Gospels, that they would judge between 
the Cid and the Infantes of Carrion, rightly and truly, accord- 
ing to the law of Castile and Leon. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 223 

When this was done the King bade the Cid make his 
demand ; and the Cid rose and said, Sir, there is no reason for 
making long speeches here, which would detain the Cortes. I 
demand of the Infantes Carrion, before you, two swords which 
I gave into their keeping ; the one is Colada and the other 
Tizona. I won them like a man, and gave them to the keeping 
of the Infantes that they might honour my daughters with them, 
and serve you. When they left my daughters in the Oak-forest 
of Corpes they chose to have nothing to do with me, and re- 
nounced my love ; let them therefore give me back the swords, 
seeing that they are no longer my sons-in-law. Then the King 
commanded the Alcaldes to judge upon this demand according as 
they should find the right ; and they took counsel and judged, 
that the swords should be restored unto the Cid. And Count 
Don Garcia said they would talk concerning it ; and the Infantes 
of Carrion talked apart with those who were on their side, and 
they thought that they were well off; for that the Cid would 
demand nothing more of them, but would leave the Cortes when 
he had recovered the swords. So they brought the swords Colada 
and Tizona, and delivered them to the King. The King drew 
the swords, and the whole court shone with their brightness : 
their hilts were of solid gold ; all the good men of the Cortes 
marvelled at them. And the Cid rose and received them, and 
kissed the King's hand, and went back to his ivory seat; and he 
took the swords in his hand and looked at them ; they could not 
change them, for the Cid knew them well, and his whole frame 
rejoiced, and he smiled from his heart. And he laid them 
upon his lap and said, Ah, my swords, Colada and Tizona, truly 
may I say of you, that you are the best swords in Spain ; 
and I won you, for I did not get you either by buying or by 
barter. I gave ye in keeping to the Infantes of Carrion that 



224 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

they might do honour to my daughters with ye. But ye were 
not for them ! they kept ye hungry, and did not feed ye with 
flesh as ye were wont to be fed. Well it is for you that ye 
have escaped that thraldom and are come again to my hands, 
and happy man am I to recover you. Then Alvar Fanez rose 
and kissed the hand of the Cid, and said, I beseech you give 
Colada into my keeping while this Cortes shall last, that I may 
defend you therewith : and the Cid gave it him and said. Take 
it, it hath changed its master for the better. And Pero Ber- 
mudez rose and made the same demand for the sword Tizona, 
and the Cid gave it him in like manner. Then the Cid laid 
hand upon his beard as he was wont to do, and the Infantes of 
Carrion and they who were of their side thought that he meant 
to disturb the Cortes, and they were greatly afraid ; but he sat 
still like a man of good understanding, for he was not one who 
did things lightly. 

Then the Cid rose and said, Thanks be to God and to 
you, Sir King, I have recovered my swords Colada and Tizona. 
I have now another demand against the Infantes of Carrion. 
King Don Alfonso, you well know that it was your pleasure 
to bid me meet you at Requena, and I went there in obe- 
dience to your command. And you asked of me my daughters 
in marriage for the Infantes, and I did not refuse, in that I 
would not disobey your command ; and you bade me deliver 
them to my kinsman here Don Alvar Fanez, and he gave them 
to the Infantes to be their wives, and the blessing was given 
them in the church of St. Mary, according to the law of 
Rome. You, Sir, gave them in marriage, not I ; and you did 
it for good, not for evil ; but what they did was after another 
wise. And though they are of great blood and honourable, 
yet would I not have given my daughters to them, unless in 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 225 

obedience to your command ; and this, Sir, you well know, 
for so I said unto you. I gave them, when they took my 
daughters from Valencia, horses and mules, and cups and ves- 
sels of fine gold, and much wrought silver, and many noble 
garments, and other gifts, three thousand marks of silver in all, 
thinking that I gave it to my daughters whom I loved. Now, 
Sir, since they have cast my daughters off, and hold themselves 
to have been dishonoured in marrying them, give command that 
they restore unto me this which is my own, or that they show 
cause why they should not. Then might you have seen the 
Infantes of Carrion in great chafing. And Count Don Remond 
called upon them to speak ; and they said, We gave his swords 
to the Cid Campeador, that he might ask nothing more of us, 
if it please the King But the King said that they must an- 
swer to the demand. And they asked to consult together con- 
cerning it ; and the King bade them take counsel and make 
answer incontinently. So they went apart, and with them eleven 
Counts and Ricos-omes who were on their side, but no right 
or reason could they find for opposing this demand which the 
Cid had made. Howbeit Count Don Garcia spake for them 
and said, Sir, this which the Cid demands back from them 
it is true that he gave it, but they have expended it, in your 
service : we hold therefore that they are not bound to make 
restitution of it, seeing how it hath been expended. Nevertheless 
if you hold it to be lawful that they should restore this money, 
give order that time be given them to make the payment, 
and they will go to Carrion, their inheritance, and there dis- 
charge the demand as you shall decree. When the Count had 
thus said he sat down. And the Cid arose and said, Sir, if the 
Infantes of Carrion have expended aught in your service, it 
toucheth not me. You and the Alcaldes whom you have ap- 



226 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

pointed have heard them admit that I gave them this treasure, 
and this excuse which they set up ; I pray you let judgment 
be given whether they are bound to pay it or not. Then King 
Don Alfonso answered and said, If the Infantes of Carrion have 
expended aught in my service, I am bound to repay it, for the 
Cid must not lose what is his own : and he bade the Alcaldes 
consult together and judge according to what they should find 
right. And the Alcaldes having taken counsel gave judgment, 
that seeing the Infantes acknowledged the Cid had given them 
this treasure with his daughters, and they had abandoned them 
they must needs make restitution in the Cortes of the King 
thereright: and the King confirmed this sentence, and the Cid 
rose and kissed the King's hand. Greatly were the Infantes of 
Carrion troubled at this sentence, and they besought the King 
that he would obtain time for them from the Cid, in which 
to make their payment; and the King besought him to grant 
them fifteen days, after this manner, that they should not 
depart from the Court till they had made the payment, and 
that they should plight homage for the observance of this. 
And the Cid granted what the King desired, and they plighted 
homage accordingly in the hands of the King. Then made 
they their account with the King, and it was found that what 
they had expended for his service was two hundred marks of 
silver, and the King said that he would repay this, so that 
there remained for them two thousand and eight hundred to 
pay. Who can tell the trouble in which the Infantes were, 
to pay this treasure to the Cid, they and all their kindred and 
friends, for it was full hard for them to accomplish. And they 
took up upon trust horses and mules and wrought silver, and 
other precious things, and as they could get them, delivered 
them over to the Cid. Then might you have seen many a 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 227 

good-going horse brought there, and many a good mule, and 
many a good palfrey, and many a good sword with its mount- 
ings. And they sent to Carrion to their father and mother to 
help them, for they were in great trouble ; and they raised 
for them all they could, so that they made up the sum with- 
in the time appointed. And then they thought that the matter 
was at an end, and that nothing more would be demanded from 
them. 

After this payment had been made the Cortes assembled 
again, and the King and all the honourable men being each in 
his place, the Cid rose from his ivory seat, and said, Sir, praise 
be to God and your favour, I have recovered my swords, and 
my treasure ; now then I pray you let this other demand be 
heard which I have to make against the Infantes. Full hard it 
is for me to make it, though I have it rooted in my heart! 
I say then, let them make answer before you, and tell why it 
was that they besought you to marry them with my daugh- 
ters, and why they took them away from me from Valencia, 
when they had it in heart to dishonour me, and to strike them, 
and leave them as they were left, in the Oak-forest of Corpes? 
Look, Sir, what dishonour they did them! they stripped them 
of the garments which they had not given them, as if they 
had been bad women, and the children of a bad father, With 
less than mortal defiance I shall not let them go ! , . How 
had I deserved this, Infantes, at your hands? I gave you my 
daughters to take with you from Valencia; with great honour 
and great treasures gave I them unto you; . . Dogs and 
traitors, . . ye took them from Valencia when ye did not love 
them, and with your bridles ye smote, and with your spurs ye 
spurned and wounded them, and ye left them alone in the 
Oak-forest, to the wild beasts, and" to the birds of the 'raoun- 



228 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

tain! King Don Alfonso, they neither remembered God, nor 
you, nor me, nor their own good fortune! And here was ful- 
filled the saying of the wise man, that harder it is for those 
who have no understanding to bear with good than with evil. 
Praise be to God and to your grace, such a one am I, and such 
favour hath God shown me, from the day when I first had 
horse and arms, until now, that not only the Infantes of Carrion, 
but saving yourself, Sir, there is not a King in Christendom 
who might not think himself honoured in marrying with either 
of my daughters, . . how much more then these traitors! . . 
I beseech you give me justice upon them for the evil and 
dishonour which they have done me! And if you and your 
Cortes will not right me, through the mercy of God and my 
own good cause, I will take it myself, for the offence which 
they have committed against God and the faith, and the truth 
which they promised and vowed to their wives. I will pull 
them down from the honour in which they now are; better men 
than they have I conquered and made prisoners ere now! and 
with your license, Sir, to Carrion will I follow them, even to 
their inheritance, and there will I besiege them, and take them 
by the throat, and carry them prisoners to Valencia to my 
daughters, and there make them do penance for the crime which 
they have committed, and feed them with the food which they 
deserve. If I do not perform this, call me a flat traitor. 
When the King heard this he rose up and said, that it might 
be seen how he was offended in this thing. Certes, Cid Ruydiez 
Campeador, I asked your daughters of you for the Infantes of 
Carrion, because, as they well know, they besought me to do 
so, I never having thought thereof. It well seemeth now that 
they were not pleased with this marriage which I made at 
their request, and great part of the dishonour which they have 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 229 

done you, toucheth me. But seeing ye are here in my presence 
it is not fitting that you make your demand in any other 
manner than through my Cortes; do you therefore accuse them, 
and let them acquit themselves if they can before my Alcaldes, 
who will pass sentence according to what is right. And the 
Cid kissed the King's hand, and returned to his place upon 
the ivory seat. 

Then the Cid arose and said, God prosper you, Sir, in life, 
and honour, and estate, since you have compassion for me 
and for the dishonour which my daughters have received. And 
he turned toward the Infantes of Carrion, and said, Ferrando 
Gonzalez and Diego Gonzalez, I say that ye are false traitors 
for leaving your wives as ye left them in the Oak-forest ; and 
here before the King I attaint you as false traitors, and defy 
you, and will produce your peers who shall prove it upon you, 
and slay you or thrust you out of the lists, or make you 
confess it in your throats. And they were silent. And the 
King said, that seeing they were there present, they should 
make answer to what the Cid had said. Then Ferrando Gon- 
zalez ' the elder arose and said, Sir, we are your subjects, of 
your kingdom of Castile, and of the best hidalgos therein, sons 
of the Count Don Gonzalo Gonzalez ; and we hold that men 
of such station as ourselves were not well married with the 
daughters of Ruydiez of Bivar. And for this reason we for- 
sook them, because they come not of blood fit for our wives, 
for one lineage is above another. Touching what he says, that 
we forsook them, he saith truly ; and we hold that in so doing 
we did nothing wrong, for they were not worthy to be our 
wives, and we are more to be esteemed for having left them, 
than we were while they were wedded with us. Now then, 
Sir, there is no reason why we should do battle upon this 



1 



23O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

matter with any one. And Diego Gonzalez his brother arose 
and said, You know, Sir, what perfect men we are in our lin- 
eage, and it did not befit us to be married with the daugh- 
ters of such a one as Ruydiez ; and when he had said this 
he held his peace and sat down. Then Count Don Garcia 
rose and said, Come away, Infantes, and let us leave the Cid 
sitting like a bridegroom in his ivory chair : . . he lets his 
beard grow and thinks to frighten us with it ! . . The Cam- 
peador put up his hand to his beard, and said, What hast thou 
to do with my beard, Count ? Thanks be to God, it is long 
because it hath been kept for my pleasure : never son of 
woman hath taken me by it ; never son of Moor or of Chris- 
tian hath plucked it, as I did yours in your castle of Cabra, 
Count, when I took your castle of Cabra, and took you by 
the beard ; there was not a boy of the host but had his pull 
at it, what I plucked then is not yet methinks grown even ! . . 
And the Count cried out again, Come away, Infantes, and leave 
him ! Let him go back to Rio de Ovierna, to his own coun- 
try, and set up his mills, and take toll as he used to do ! . . 
he is not your peer that you should strive with him. At this 
the knights of the Cid looked at each other with fierce eyes 
and wrathful countenances ; but none of them dared speak till 
the Cid bade them, because of the command which he had 
given. 

When the Cid saw that none of his people made answer 
he turned to Pero Bermudez and said, Speak, Pero Mudo, what 
art thou silent for? He called him Mudo, which is to say, 
Dumb-ee, because he snaffled and stuttered when he began to 
speak ; and Pero Bermudez was wroth that he should be so 
called before all that assembly. And he said, I tell you what, 
Cid, you always call me Dumb-ee in Court, and you know I 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 23 I 

cannot help my words ; but when anything is to be done, it 
shall not fail for me. And in his anger he forgot what the 
Cid had said to him and to the others that they should make 
no broil before the King. And he gathered up his cloak un- 
der his arm and went up to the eleven Counts who were 
against the Cid, to Count Garcia, and when he was nigh him 
he clenched his fist, and gave him a blow which brought him 
to the ground. Then was the whole Cortes in an uproar by 
reason of that blow, and many swords were drawn, and on one 
side the cry was Cabra and Grafion, and on the other side it 
was Valencia and Bivar ; but the strife was in such sort that 
the Counts in short time voided the Palace. King Don Alfonso 
meantime cried out aloud, forbidding them to fight before him 
and charging them to look to his honour ; and the Cid then 
strove what he could to quiet his people, saying to the King, 
Sir, you saw that I could bear it no longer, being thus mal- 
treated in your presence ; if it had not been before you, well 
would I have had him punished. Then the King sent to call 
those Counts who had been driven out ; and they came again 
to the Palace, though they fain would not, complaining of the 
dishonour which they had received. And the King said unto 
them that they should defend themselves with courtesy and 
reason, and not revile the Cid, who was not a man to be re- 
viled ; and he said that he would defend as far as he could 
the rights of both parties. Then they took their seats on the 
estrados as before. 

And Pero Bermudez rose and said to Count Garcia, Foul 
mouth, in which God hath put no truth, thou hast dared let 
thy tongue loose to speak of the Cid's beard. His is a praise- 
worthy beard, and an honourable one, and one that is greatly 
feared, and that never hath been -dishonoured, nor overcome! 



232 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

and if you please, you may remember when he fought against 
you in Cabra, hundred to hundred, he threw you from your 
horse, and took thee by the beard, and made thee and thy knights 
prisoners, and carried thee prisoner away across a packsaddle; 
and his knights pulled thy beard for thee, and I who stand 
here had a good handful of it : how then shall a beard that hath 
been pulled speak against one that hath always been honour- 
able! If you deny this, I will fight you upon this quarrel before 
the King our Lord. Then Count Suero Gonzalez rose in great 
haste and said, Nephews, go you away and leave these rascally 
companions : if they are for fighting, we will give them their 
fill of that, if our Lord the King should think good so to com- 
mand ; that shall not fail for us, though they are not our peers. 
Then Don Alvar Fafiez Minaya arose and said, Hold thy peace, 
Count Suero Gonzalez ! you have been to breakfast before you 
said your prayers, and your words are more like a drunkard's 
than one who is in his senses. Your kinsman like those of the 
Cid! . . if it were not out of reverence to my Lord the King, 
I would teach you never to talk again in this way. And then 
the King saw that these words were going on to worse, and 
moreover that they were nothing to the business; and he com- 
manded them to be silent, and said, I will determine this busi- 
ness of the defiance with the Alcaldes, as shall be found right; 
and I will not have these disputes carried on before me, lest 
you should raise another uproar in my presence. 

Then the King arose and called to the Alcaldes, and went 
apart with them into a chamber, and the Cid and all the others 
remained in the Hall. And when the King and the Alcaldes 
had taken counsel together concerning what was right in this 
matter, they came out from the chamber, and the King went 
and seated himself in his chair, and the Alcaldes each in his 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 233 

place, and they commanded all persons to be silent and hear 
the sentence which the King should give. Then the King spake 
thus : I have taken counsel with these Counts whom I appointed 
to be Alcaldes in this cause between the Cid and the Infantes 
of Carrion, and with other honourable and learned men : and this 
is the sentence which I give ; that both the Infantes and Count 
Suero Gonzalez their fosterer and uncle, forasmuch as it is given 
me to understand that he was the adviser and abettor in the 
dishonour which they did unto the daughters of the Cid, shall 
do battle with such three of the Cid's people as it may please 
him to appoint, and thereby acquit themselves if they can. When 
the King had given this sentence, the Cid rose and kissed his 
hand and said, May God have you, Sir, in his holy keeping long 
and happy years, seeing you have judged justly, as a righteous 
King and our natural Lord. I receive your sentence ; and now 
do I perceive that it is your pleasure to show favour unto 
me, and to advance mine honour, and for this reason I shall 
ever be at your service. Then Pero Bermudez rose up and went 
to the Cid and said, A boon, Sir! I beseech you let me be 
one of those who shall do battle on your part, for such a one 
do I hold myself to be, and this which they have done is so foul 
a thing, that I trust in God to take vengeance for it. And the 
Cid made answer that he was well pleased it should be so, and 
that he should do battle with Ferrando Gonzalez the eldest ; and 
upon that Pero Bermudez kissed his hand. Then Martin Anto- 
linez of Burgos rose and besought the Cid that he might be 
another, and the Cid granted his desire, and said that he should 
do battle with Diego Gonzalez the younger brother. And then 
Muno Gustioz of Linquella rose and besought the Cid that he 
might be the third, and the Cid granted it, and appointed him to 
do battle with Count Suero Gonzalez. And when the Cid had 



234 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

appointed his three champions, the King gave command that the 
combat should be performed on the morrow ; but the Infantes 
were not prepared to fight so soon, and they besought him of 
his favour that he would let them go to Carrion, and that they 
would come prepared for the battle. And the King would not 
allow this time which they requested ; howbeit the Counts Don 
Anrrich and Don Remond his sons-in-law, and Count Don Nufio, 
spake with him, and besought him of his grace that he would 
allow them three weeks ; and the King at their entreaty granted 
it with the pleasure of the Cid. 

Now when all this had been appointed, as ye have heard,, 
and while they were all in the court, there came unto the Pal- 
ace messengers from the Kings of Arragon and of Navarre, 
who brought letters to King Don Alfonso, and to the Cid 
Campeador, wherein those Kings sent to ask the daughters of 
the Cid in marriage, the one for the Infante Don Sancho of 
Arragon, the other for the Infante Garcia Ramirez of Navarre. 
And when they came before the King, they bent their knees 
and gave him the letters, and delivered their message ; the like 
did they to the Cid. Much were the King and the Cid also 
pleased at this news, and the King said unto him, What say 
you to this ? And the Cid answered, I and my daughters are 
at your disposal do you with us as you shall think good. And 
the King said, I hold it good that they wed with these Infantes, 
and that from henceforward they' be Queens and ladies; and 
that for the dishonour which they have received, they now re- 
ceive this honour. , And the Cid rose and kissed the hands of 
the King, and ail his knights did the like. These messengers 
hight, he of Arragon Ynigo Ximenez, and he of Navarre Ochoa 
Perez. And the King gave order that his letters of consent to 
these marriages should be given, and the Cid did the like. And 




Messenger from the Kings of Arragon and Navarre. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 237 

those knights did homage before the King, that in three months 
from that day the Infantes of Arragon and Navarre should come 
to Valencia, to the Cid, to be wedded to his daughters. Great 
joy had the companions of the Cid that these marriages were 
appointed, seeing how their honour was increased ; and contrari- 
wise, great was the sorrow of the Infantes of Carrion and their 
friends, because it was to their confusion and great shame. And 
King Don Alfonso said aloud unto the Cid before them all. 
Praised be the name of God because it hath pleased him that 
the dishonour which was done to me and to you in your daugh- 
ters, should thus be turned into honour: for they were the wives 
of the sons of Counts, and now shall they be the wives of 
the sons of Kings, and Queens hereafter. Great was the pleasure 
of the Cid and his company at these words of the King, for 
before they had sorrow, and now it was turned into joy. And 
the Infantes went away from the Palace full sadly, and went 
to their lodging, and prepared to go to Carrion that they might 
make ready for the combat, which was to be in three weeks 
from that time. 

Then the Cid said unto the King, Sir, I have appointed 
those who are to do battle with the Infantes and their uncle 
for the enmity and treason which they committed against me 
and my daughters ; and now, Sir, as there is nothing more for 
me to do here, I will leave them in your hand, knowing that 
you will not suffer them to receive any displeasure or wrong 
soever, and that you will defend their right. And if it please 
you I would fain return to Valencia, where I have left my 
wife and daughters, and my other companions ; for I would not 
that the Moors should rise up against me during my absence, 
thinking peradventure that I have not sped so well in this 
matter as I have done, praised be God and you. And more- 



238 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

over I have to make ready for these marriages which you have 
now appointed. And the King bade him go when he pleased, 
and good fortune with him, and said that he would protect 
his knights and maintain his right in all things. Then the Cid 
kissed the King's hand for this which he had said, and com- 
mended the knights to his keeping. And the King called for 
Count Don Remond his son-in-law, and gave the knights of 
the Cid to his charge, and bade them not depart from him ; 
and then the King rose and returned to the Alcazar. 

Then the Cid took off his coif of ranzal, which was as 
white as the sun, and he loosed his beard, and took it out of 
the cord with which it was bound. All they who were there 
could not be satisfied with looking at him. And the Counts 
Don Anrrich and Don Remond came up to him, and he em- 
braced them, and thanked them and the other good men who 
had been Alcaldes in this business, for maintaining his right ; 
and he promised to do for them in requital whatever they might 
require ; and he besought them to accept part of his treasures. 
And they thanked him for his offer, but said that it was not 
seemly. Howbeit he sent great presents to each of them, and 
some accepted them and some did not. Who can tell how nobly 
the Cid distributed his treasure before he departed ! And he 
forgave the King the two hundred marks which should have 
been paid on account of the Infantes. And to the knights who 
had come from Arragon and Navarre concerning the marriages, 
he gave many horses, and money in gold, and sent them with 
great honour into their own country. 

On the morrow the Cid went to take leave of the King, 
and the King went some way out of the town with him, and all 
the good men who were in the court also, to do him honour 
as he deserved. And when he was about to dispeed himself of 







^/y Qif mounts Ei 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 241 

the King they brought him his precious horse Bavieca, and he 
turned to the King and said, Sir, I should depart ill from hence 
if I took with me so good a horse as my Bavieca, and did not 
leave him for you, for such horse as this is fit for you and for 
no other master: and that you may see what he is, I will do 
before you what it is long since I have done except in the battles 
which I have had with my enemies. Then he mounted his horse, 
with his ermine housings, and gave him the spur. Who can tell 
the goodness of the horse Bavieca, and of the Cid who rode 
him? And as the Cid was doing this the horse brake one of 
his reins, yet he came and stopped before the King as easily 
as if both the reins had been whole. Greatly did the King and 
all they who were with him marvel at this, saying that they had 
never seen or heard of so good a horse as that. And the Cid 
besought the King that he would be pleased to take the horse, 
but the King answered, God forbid that I should take him ! . 
rather would I give you a better if I had one, for he is better 
bestowed on you than on me or any other, for upon that horse 
you have done honour to yourself, and to us, and to all Chris- 
tendom, by the good feats which you have achieved. Let him 
go as mine, and I will take him when I please* Then the Cid 

* The King looked on him kindly, as on a vassal true ; 
Then to the Ki?ig Ruy Diaz spake, after reverence due, — 
" Oh King, the thing is shameful, that any matt beside 
The liege lord of Castile himself should Bavieca ride : 

For neither Spain nor Araby could another charger bring 

So good as he, and certes, the best befits my King; 

Bid that you may behold him, and know him to the core. 

Til make him go as he was wont when his nostrils smelt the Moor."' 

With that, the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furred and wide, 
On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in. his side ; 



242 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

kissed the King's hand and dispeeded himself, and the King 
embraced him and returned to Toledo. 

Now when the Cid had taken leave of the King and of the 
other honourable men and Counts, and Ricos-omes who were 
with him, Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muno 
Gustioz went on yet awhile with him : and he counselled them 
how to demean themselves so as to clear him of the shame 
which had been done him, and to be held for good knights 
themselves, and to take vengeance for King Don Alfonso, and 
for him, and for themselves, that he might receive good tiding 
from them in Valencia. And they took his counsel well, as they 
afterward manifested when there was occasion. But Martin 
Antolinez made answer, Why do you say this, Sir? we have 
undertaken the business and we shall go through it : and they 
said unto him, God have you in his guidance, Sir, and be you 



And up and down, and round and round, so fierce was his career. 
Streamed like a pennon on the wind Ruy Diaz miniver e. 

And all that saw them praised them — they lauded man and horse, 
As matched well, and rivalless for gallantry and force ; 
Ne'er had they looked on horseman might to this knight come near. 
Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier. 

Thus to and fro a-rushing, the fierce and furious steed. 
He snapt in twain his hither rein: — " God pity now the Cid;" 
" God pity Diaz," cried the Lords, — but when they looked again. 
They saw Ruy Diaz ruling him, with the fragment of his rein ; 
They saw him proudly ruling, with gesture firm and calm, 
Like a true lord commanding — and obeyed as by a lamb. 

And so he led him, foa7>iing and panting, to the King, 
But "No," said Don Alfonso, "it were a shameful thing 
That peerless Bavieca should ever be bestrid 
By any mortal but Bivar — Moicnt, mount again, my Cid." 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



243 



sure and certain, that by the mercy and help of God we shall 
so demean ourselves as to come to you without shame. But if 
for our sins it should betide otherwise, never more shall we 
appear before you dead or living, . . for slain we may be, but 
never vanquished. Then he bade them return to the King, pray- 
ing to God to have them in his keeping, and assist them in 
fulfilling their demand, as he knew that their cause was right. 





The combat takes place at Carrion, and 
the Infantes and their uncle Suero 
Gonzalez are overcome — The King 
proclaims them notorious traitors and 

orders his seneschal to take their arms and horses — -The second marriage of the 

Cid' s daicghters. 



Now King Alfonso misdoubted the Infantes of Carrion that 
they would not appear at the time appointed, and therefore he 
said that he would go to Carrion, and the battle should be 
fought there. And he took with him the Counts whom he had 
appointed Alcaldes, and Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez 
and Muno Gustioz went with the Count Don Remond, to 
whose charge the King had given them. And on the third 
day after the Cid departed from Toledo, the King set forth for 
Carrion ; but it so chanced that he fell sick upon the road, 
and could not arrive within the three weeks, so that the term 
was enlarged to five. And when the King's health was restored 
he proceeded and reached Carrion, and gave order that the 
combat should be performed, and appointed the day, and named 
the plain ot Carrion for the place thereof. And the Infantes 
came there with a great company of all their friends and kin- 
dred, for their kinsmen were many and powerful; and they all 
came with one accord, that if before the battle they could find 
any cause they would kill the knights of the Cid: nevertheless, 







The Champions of the Cid arm themselves. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 247 

though they had determined upon this they dared not put it 
in effect, because they stood in fear of the King. 

And when the night came, of which the morrow was ap- 
pointed for the combat, they on one side and on the other 
kept vigil in ■ the Churches each in that Church to which he 
had the most devotion. Night is passed away, and the dawn 
is now breaking ; and at daybreak a great multitude was as- 
sembled in the field, and many Ricos-omes came there for the 
pleasure which they would have in seeing this battle, and the 
King sent and commanded the champions to make ready. 
Moreover he made the two Counts his sons-in-law, Don Anrrich 
and Don Remond, and the other Counts and their people, arm 
themselves and keep the field, that the kinsmen of the Infantes 
might not make a tumult there. Who can tell the great dole 
and sorrow of Count Gonzalo Gonzalez for his sons the Infantes 
of Carrion, because they had to do battle this day ! and in the 
fulness of his heart he cursed the day and the hour in which 
he was born, for his heart divined the sorrow which he was to 
have for his children. Great was the multitude which was as- 
sembled from all Spain to behold this battle. And there in the 
field near the lists the champions of the Cid armed themselves 
on one side, and the Infantes on the other. And Count Don 
Remond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them how 
to do their devoir, and Count Garci Ordonez helped arm the 
Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, and they 
sent to ask the King of his favour that he would give com- 
mand that the swords Colada and Tizona should not be used 
in that combat. But the King would not, and he answered 
that each must take the best sword and the best arms that he 
could, save only that the one should not have more than the 
other. Greatly were they troubled at this reply, and greatly did 



248 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

they fear those good swords, and repent that they had taken 
them to the Cortes of Toledo. And from that hour the Infantes 
and Suero Gonzalez bewrayed in their countenances that they 
thought ill of what they had done, and happy men would they 
have thought themselves if they had not committed that great 
villany, and he if he had not counselled it ; and gladly would 
they have given all that they had in Carrion so it could now 
have been undone. 

And the King went to the place where the Infantes were 
arming, and said unto them, If ye feared these swords ye 
should have said so in the Cortes of Toledo, for that was the 
place, and not this ; . . there is now nothing to be done but 
to defend yourselves stoutly, as ye have need against those 
with whom ye have to do. Then went he to the knights of 
the Cid, whom he found armed ; and they kissed his hand and 
said unto him, Sir, the Cid hath left us in your hand, and we 
beseech you see that no wrong be done us in this place, where 
the Infantes of Carrion have their party ; and by God's mercy 
we will do ourselves right upon them. And the King bade 
them have no fear for that. Then their horses were brought, 
and they crossed the saddles, and mounted, with their shields 
hanging from the neck ; and they took their spears, each of 
which had its streamer, and with many good men round about 
they went to the list ; and on the other side the Infantes 
and Count Suero Gonzalez came up with a great company of 
their friends and kinsmen and vassals. And the King said 
with a loud voice, Hear what I say, Infantes of Carrion ! . . 
this combat I would have had waged in Toledo, but ye said 
that ye were not ready to perform it there, and therefore I am 
come to this which is your native place, and have brought the 
knights of the Cid with me. They are come here under my 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 249 

safeguard. Let not therefore you nor your kinsmen deceive 
yourselves, thinking to overpower them by tumult, or in any 
other way than by fair combat ; for whosoever shall begin a 
tumult, I have given my people orders to cut him in pieces 
upon the spot, and no inquiry shall be made touching the 
death of him who shall so have offended. Full sorrowful were 
the Infantes of Carrion for this command which the King had 
given. And the King appointed twelve knights who were hi- 
dalgos to be true-men, and place the combatants in the lists, 
and show them the bounds at what point they were to win 
or to be vanquished, and to divide the sun between them. 
And he went with a wand in his hand, and saw them placed 
on both sides ; then he went out of the lists, and gave com- 
mand that the people should fall back, and not approach with- 
in seven spears-length of the lines of the lists. 

Now were the six combatants left alone in the lists, and 
each of them knew now with whom he had to do battle. 

The marshals leave them face to face and from the lists are gone ; 
Here stand the champions of my Cid, there those of Carrion ; 
Each with his gaze intent and fixed upon his chosen foe, 
Their bucklers braced before their breasts, their lances pointing low, 
Their heads bent down as each man leans above his saddle bow. 
Then with one impulse every spur is in the charger's side, 
And earth itself is felt to shake beneath their furious stride ; 
Till, midway meeting, three with three, in struggle fierce they lock, 
While all account them dead who hear the echo of the shock. 
Ferrando and his challenger, Pero Bermudez, close ; 
Firm are the lances held, and fair the shields receive the blows. 
Through Pero's shield Ferrando drove his lance a bloodless stroke ; 
The point stopped short in empty space, the shaft in splinters, broke. 



25O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

But on Bermudez, firm of seat, the shock fell all in vain ; 
And while he took Ferrando's thrust, he paid it back again. 
The armoured buckler shattering, right home his lance he pressed, 
Driving the point through boss and plate against his foeman's 

breast. 
Three folds of mail Ferrando wore, they stood him in good stead ; 
Two yielded to the lance's point, the third held fast the head. 
But forced into the flesh it sank a hand's breath deep or more, 
Till bursting from the gasping lips in torrents gushed the gore. 
Then, the girths breaking, o'er the croup borne rudely to the 

ground, 
He lay, a dying man it seemed to all who stood around ; 
Bermudez cast his lance aside, and, sword in hand, came on ; 
Ferrando saw the blade he bore ; he knew it was Tizon : 
Quick ere the dreaded brand could fall, " I yield me," came the cry.. 
Vanquished the marshals granted him, and Pero let him lie. 
And Martin Antolinez and Diego — fair and true 
Each struck upon the other's shield, and wide the splinters flew. 
Then Antolinez seized his sword, and as he drew the blade, 
A dazzling gleam of burnished steel across the meadow played ; 
And at Diego striking full, athwart the helmet's crown, 
Sheer through the steel plates of the casque he drove the falchion 

down, 
Through coif and scarf, till from the scalp the locks it razed away, 
And half-shorn off and half upheld, the shattered head-piece lay. 
Reeling beneath the blow that proved Colada's cruel might, 
Diego saw no chance but one, no safety but in flight : 
He wheeled and fled, but close behind him Antolinez drew ;, 
With the flat blade a hasty blow he dealt him as he flew ; 
But idle was Diego's sword ; he shrieked to Heaven for aid : 
" O God of Glory, give me help ! save me from yonder blade T 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 25 I 

Unreined, his good steed bore him safe, and swept him past the 

bound, 
And Martin Antolinez stood alone upon the ground. 
"Come hither," said the King; "thus far the conquerors are ye," 
And fairly fought and won the field the marshals both agree. 
So much for these, and how they fought : remains to tell you yet 
How meanwhile Mufio Gustioz, Assur Gonzalez met. 
With a strong arm and steady aim, each struck the other's shield, 
And under Assur's sturdy thrust the plates of Mufio's yield ; 
But harmless passed the lance's point and spent its force in air. 
Not so Don Mufio's ; on the shield of Assur striking fair. 
Through plate and boss and foeman's breast his pennoned lance he 

sent, 
Till out between the shoulder blades a fathom's length it went. 
Then as the lance he plucked away, clear from the saddle swung, 
With one strong wrench of Mufio's wrist to earth was Assur flung; 
And back it came, shaft, pennon, blade, all stained a gory red ; 
Nor was there one of all the crowd but counted Assur sped, 
While o'er him Muno Gustioz stood with uplifted brand. 
Then cried Gonzalo Assurez : " In God's name hold thy hand ! 
Already have ye won the field ; no more is needed now !" 
And said the marshals, " It is just, and we the claim allow." 

Then the King entered the lists, and many good knights 
and hidalgos with him, and he called the twelve true-men, and 
asked them if the knights of the Cid had aught more to do 
to prove their accusation : and they made answer that the 
knights of the Cid had won the field and done their devoir; 
and all the hidalgos who were there present made answer, that 
they said true. And King Don Alfonso lifted up his voice and 
said, Hear me, all ye who are here present : inasmuch as the 



252 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

knights of the Cid have conquered, they have won the cause ; 
and the twelve true-men made answer, that what the King 
said was the truth, and all the people said the same. And 
the King gave command to break up the lists, and gave sen- 
tence that the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gon- 
zalez were notorious traitors, and ordered his seneschal to take 
their arms and horses. And from that day forth their lineage 
never held up its head, nor was of any worth in Castile ; and 
they and their uncle fled away, having been thus vanquished 
and put to shame. And thus it was that Carrion fell to the 
King after the .days of Gonzalo Gonzalez, the father of the 
Infantes. Great was their shame, and the like or worse betide 
him who abuseth fair lady, and then leaveth her. 

Then the King went to meat, and he took the knights 
of the Cid with him ; and great was the multitude which 
followed after them, praising the good feat which they had 
achieved. And the King gave them great gifts, and sent them 
away by night, and with a good guard to protect them till 
they should be in safety : and they took their leave of the 
King, and travelled by night and day, and came to Valencia. 
When the Cid knew that they drew nigh, he went out to 
meet them, and did them great honour. Who can tell the 
great joy which he made over them ? And they told him all 
even as it had come to pass, and how the King had declared 
the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle to be notorious traitors. 
Great was the joy of the Cid at these tidings, and he lifted 
up his hands to Heaven and blest the name of God because 
of the vengeance which he had given him for the great dis- 
honour which he had received. And he took with him Mar- 
tin Antolinez and Pero Bermudez and Muno Gustioz, and went 
to Dona Ximena and her daughters, and said to them, Blessed 




Arrival of the Prince of Arragon. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 255 

be the name of God, now are you and your daughters avenged ! 
and he made the knights recount the whole unto them, even 
as it had come to pass. Great was the joy of Dona Ximena 
and her daughters, and they bent their knees to the ground, 
and praised the name of Jesus Christ, because he had given 
them this vengeance for the dishonour which they had received : 
and Dona Elvira and Dona Sol embraced those knights many 
times, and would fain have kissed their hands and their feet. 
And the Cid said unto Dona Ximena, Now may you without 
let marry your daughters with the Infantes of Arragon and 
Navarre, and I trust in God that they will be well and hon- 
ourably married, better than they were at first. Eight days did the 
great rejoicings endure which the Cid made in Valencia, for 
the vengeance which God had given him upon the Infantes of 
Carrion, and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, the aider and abettor 
in the villany which they had committed. 

Now came tidings to the Cid that the Infantes of Arragon 
and Navarre were coming to celebrate their marriage with his 
daughters, according as it had been appointed at the Cortes of 
Toledo. He of Navarre hight Don Ramiro, and he was the 
son of King Don Sancho, him who was slain at Rueda ; and 
he married with Dona Elvira, the elder: and the Infante of 
Arragon who married Dona Sol, the younger, hight Don Sancho, 
and was the son of King Don Pedro. Howbeit it was not his 
fortune to have a son by Dona Sol, for he died before he came 
to the throne, and left no issue. When the Cid knew that the 
Infantes were coming, he and all his people went out six leagues 
to meet them, all gallantly attired both for court and for war; 
and he ordered his tents to be pitched in a fair meadow, 
and there he awaited till they came up. And the first day the 
Infante Don Sancho of Arragon came up, and they waited for 



256 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



the Infante Don Ramiro ; and when they were all met the)r 
proceeded to Valencia. And the Bishop Don Hieronymo came 
out to meet them with a procession, full honourably. Great were 
the rejoicings which were made in Valencia because of the coming 
of the Infantes, for eight days before the marriage began. And 
the Cid gave order that they should be lodged in the Garden 
of Villa Nueva, and supplied with all things in abundance. 

When eight days were overpast the Bishop Don Hieronymo 
married the Infantes of Arragon and Navarre to the daughters 
of the Cid in this manner : the Infante Don Ramiro of Navarre 
to Dona Elvira, and the Infante Don Sancho of Arragon to Dona 
Sol. And on the day after they had been espoused they re- 
ceived the blessing in the great church of St. Peter, as is com- 
manded by the law of Jesus Christ, and the Bishop said mass. 
Who can tell the great rejoicings which were made at those 
marriages, and the great nobleness thereof? Certes there would 
be much to tell ; for during eight days that they lasted, there was 
feasting every day, full honourably and plentifully, where all per- 
sons did eat out of silver ; and many bulls were killed every day, 
and many sports were devised, and many garments and saddles 
and noble trappings were given to the j oculars. And the Moors 
also exhibited their sports and rejoicings, after such divers manners,, 
that men knew not which to go to first. So great was the mul- 
titude which was there assembled, that they were counted at eight 
thousand hidalgos. And when the marriage was concluded, the 
Cid took his sons-in-law and led them by the hand to Dona 
Ximena, and showed them great treasures and such noble things 
that they were greatly astonished, and said that they did not 
think there had been a man in Spain so rich as the Cid, nor 
who possessed such things. And as they were marvelling from 
whence such riches could have come, both of gold and silver,. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 257 

and of precious stones and pearls, the Cid embraced them and 
said, My sons, this and all that I have is for you and for your 
wives, and I will give unto you the noblest and most precious 
things that ever were given with women for their dowry: for 
I will give you the half of all that you see here, and the 
other- half I and Dona Ximena will keep so long as we live, 
and after our death all shall be yours ; and my days are now 
well nigh full. Then the Infantes made answer, that they prayed 
God to grant him life for many and happy years yet, and that 
they thanked him greatly, and held him as their father; and 
that they would ever have respect to his honour and be at his 
•service, holding themselves honoured by the tie that there was 
between them. Three months these Infantes abode with the Cid 
in Valencia, in great pleasure. And then they dispeeded them- 
selves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law Dona Ximena, and 
took each his wife and returned into their own lands with great 
riches and honour. And the Cid gave them great treasures, 
even as he had promised. And he rode out with them twelve 
leagues. ' And when they took leave of each other there was not 
a knight of all those who came with the Infantes to whom the 
Cid did not give something, horse, or mule, or garments, or 
money, so that all were well pleased ; and he gave his daughters 
his blessing, and commended them to God, and then he returned 
to Valencia, and they went to their own country. 





King Bucar the Miramamolin of Morocco comes a second time against Valencia- — The 
Cid is admonished in a vision by St. Peter that his end is nigh, and prepares 
himself for death, giving directions to his folloivers as to how they shall conduct 
themselves when he is gone — My Cid wins his last battle with the Moors. 



It is written in the history which Abenalfarax, the nephew 
of Gil Diaz, composed in Valencia, that for five years the Cid 
Ruydiez remained Lord thereof in peace, and in all that time 
he sought to do nothing but to serve God, and to keep the 
Moors quiet who were under his dominion ; so that Moors 
and Christians dwelt together in such accord, that it seemed 
as if they had alway been united; and they all loved and 
served the Cid with such good will that it was marvellous. And 
when these five years were over tidings were spread far and 
near, which reached Valencia, that King Bucar the Miramam- 
olin of Morocco, holding himself disgraced because the Cid 
Campeador had conquered him in the field of Quarto near 
unto Valencia, where he had slain or made prisoners all his 
people, and driven him into the sea, and made spoil of all the 




The Coming of the Moors. 




THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 26 I 

treasures which he had brought with him; . . King Bucar call- 
ing these things to mind, had gone himself and stirred up the 
whole Paganism of Barbary, even as far as Montes Claros, to 
cross the sea again, and avenge himself if he could; and he 
had assembled so great a power that no man could devise 
their numbers. When the Cid heard these tidings he was 
troubled at heart; howbeit he dissembled this, so that no person 
knew what he was minded to do ; and thus the matter remained 
for some days. And when he saw that the news came thicker 
and faster, and that it was altogether certain that King Bucar 
was coming over sea against him, he sent and bade all the 
Moors of Valencia assemble together in his presence, and when 
they were all assembled he said unto them, Good men of the 
Aljama, ye well know that from the day wherem I became Lord 
of Valencia, ye have alway been protected and defended, and 
have passed your time well and peaceably in your houses and 
heritages, none troubling you nor doing you wrong; neither have 
I who am your Lord ever done aught unto vou that was against 
right. And now true tidings are come to me that King Bucar 
of Morocco is arrived from beyond sea, with a mighty power of 
Moors, and that he is coming against me to take from me this 
city which I won with so great labour. Now therefore, seeing 
it is so, I hold it good and command that ye quit the town, 
both ye and your sons, and your women, and go into the 
suburb of Alcudia and the other suburbs, to dwell there with 
the other Moors, till we shall see the end of this business 
between me and King Bucar. Then the Moors, albeit they 
were loth, obeyed his command; and when they were all gone 
out of the city, so that none remained, he held himself safer 
than he had done before. 

Now after the Moors were all gone out of the city, it 



262 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

came to pass in the middle of the night that the Cid was 
lying in his bed, devising how he might withstand this coming 
of King Bucar, for Abenalfarax saith that when he was alone 
in his palace his thoughts were of nothing else. And when it 
was midnight there came a great light into the palace, and a 
great cdour, marvellous sweet. And as he was marvelling what 
it might be, there appeared before him a man as white as 
snow; he was in the likeness of an old man, with gray hair 
and crisp, and he carried certain keys in his hand; and before 
the Cid could speak to him he said, Sleepest thou, Rodrigo, 
or what art thou doing? And the Cid made answer, What 
man art thou who askest me? And he said, I am St. Peter 
the Prince of the Apostles, who come unto thee with more 
urgent tidings than those for which thou art taking thought 
concerning King Bucar, and it is, that thou art to leave this 
world, and go to that which hath no end; and this will be in 
thirty days. But God will show favour unto thee, so that thy 
people shall discomfit King Bucar, and thou, being dead, shalt 
win this battle for the honour of thy body; this will be with the 
help of Santiago, whom God will send to the business: but do 
thou strive to make atonement for thy sins, and so thou shalt be 
saved. All this Jesus Christ vouchsafeth thee for the love of me, 
and for the reverence which thou hast alway shown to my 
Church in the Monastery of Cardena. When the Cid Campea- 
dor heard this he had great pleasure at heart, and he let himself 
fall out of bed upon the earth, that he might kiss the feet of 
the Apostle St. Peter; but the Apostle said, Strive not to do 
this, for thou canst not touch me; but be sure that all this 
which I have told thee will come to pass. And when the 
blessed Apostle had said this he disappeared, and the palace 
remained full of a sweeter and more delightful odour than 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 263 

heart of man can conceive. And the Cid Ruydiez remained 
greatly comforted by what St. Peter had said to him, and as 
certain that all this would come to pass, as if it were already 
over. 

Early on the morrow he sent to call all his honourable 
men to the Alcazar; and when they were all assembled before 
him, he began to say unto them, weeping the while, Friends 
and kinsmen and true vassals and honourable men, many of ye 
must well remember when King Don Alfonso our Lord banished 
me from his land, and most of ye for the love which ye bore 
me followed me into banishment and have guarded me ever 
since. And God hath shown such mercy to you and to me, that 
we have won many battles against Moors and Christians ; those 
which were against Christians, God knows, were more through 
their fault than my will, for they strove to set themselves against 
the good fortune which God had given me, and to oppose his 
service, helping the enemies of the faith. Moreover we won this 
city in which we dwell, which is not under the dominion of any 
man in the world save only of my Lord the King Don Alfonso, 
and that rather by reason of our natural allegiance than of any- 
thing else. And now I would have ye know the state in which 
this body of mine now is ; for be ye certain that I am in the 
latter days of my life, and that thirty days hence will be my last. 
Of this I am well assured ; for, for these seven nights past I 
have seen visions. I have seen my father Diego Laynez, and 
Diego Rodriguez my son ; and every time they say to me, You 
have tarried long here, let us go now among the people who en- 
dure for ever. Now notwithstanding man ought not to put his 
trust in these things, nor in such visions, I know this by other 
means to be certain, for Sir St. Peter hath appeared to me this 
night, when I was awake and not sleeping, and he told me that 



264- THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

when these thirty days were over, I should pass away from this 
world. Now ye know for certain that King Bucar is coming 
against us, and they say that thirty and six Moorish Kings are 
coming with him ; and since he bringeth so great a power of 
Moors, and I have to depart so soon, how can ye defend Valencia! 
But be ye certain, that by the mercy of God I shall counsel ye 
so, that ye shall conquer King Bucar in the field, and win great 
praise and honour from' him, and Dona Ximena, and ye and 
all that ye have, go hence in safety; how ye are to do all this 
I will tell ye hereafter, before I depart. 

After the Cid had said this he sickened of the malady of 
which he died. And the day before his weakness waxed great, 
he ordered the gates of the town to be shut, and went to the 
Church of St. Peter; and there the Bishop Don Hieronymo being 
present, and all the clergy who were in Valencia, and the knights 
and honourable men and honourable dames, as many as the 
Church could hold, the Cid Ruydiez stood up, and made a full 
noble preaching, showing that no man whatsoever, however hon- 
ourable or fortunate they may be in this world, can escape death ; 
to which, said he, I am now full near : and since ye know that 
this body of mine hath never yet been conquered, nor put to 
shame, I beseech ye let not tljis befall it at the end, for the good 
fortune of man is only accomplished at his end. How this is to 
be done, and what ye all have to do, I will leave in the hands of 
the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fafiez, and Pero Bermu- 
dez. And when he had said this he placed himself at the feet of 
the Bishop, and there before all the people made a general con- 
fession of all his sins, and all the faults which he had committed 
against our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Bishop appointed him 
his penance, and assoyled him of his sins. Then he arose and 
took leave of the people, weeping plenteously, and returned to 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 265 

the Alcazar, and betook himself to his bed, and never rose from 
it again; and every day he waxed weaker and weaker, till seven 
days only remained of the time appointed. Then he called for 
caskets of gold in which were balsam and myrrh ; and when these 
were put before him he bade them bring him the golden cup, of 
which he was wont to drink ; and he took of that balsam and 
of that myrrh as much as a little spoonful, and mingled it in the 
cup, with rose-water, and drank of it ; and for the seven days 
which he lived he neither ate nor drank aught else than a little 
of that myrrh and balsam mingled with water. And every day 
after he did this, his body and his countenance appeared fairer 
and fresher than before, and his voice clearer, though he waxed 
weaker and weaker daily, so that he could not move in his bed. 
On the twenty-ninth day, being the day before he departed, 
he called for Dona Ximena, and for the Bishop Don Hieronymo. 
and Don Alvar Fafiez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and his 
trusty Gil Diaz ; and when they were all five before him, 
he began to direct them what they should do after his death ; 
and he said to them, Ye know that King Bucar will presently 
be here to besiege this city, with seven and thirty Kings whom 
he bringeth with him, and with a mighty power of Moors. 
Now therefore the first thing which ye do after I have de- 
parted, wash my body with rose-water many times and well, 
as blessed be the name of God it is washed within and made 
pure of all uncleanness to receive His Holy Body to-morrow, 
which will be my last day. And when it has been well washed 
and made clean, ye shall dry it well, and anoint it with this 
myrrh and balsam, from these golden caskets, from head to foot, 
so that every part shall be anointed, till none be left. And 
you my Sister Dona Ximena, and your women, see that ye 
utter no cries, neither make any lamentation for me, that the 



266 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Moors may not know of my death. And when the day shall 
come in which King Bucar arrives, order all the people of 
Valencia to go upon the walls, and sound your trumpets and 
tambours, and make the greatest rejoicings that ye can. And 
when ye would set out for Castile, let all the people know 
in secret, that they make themselves ready, and take with them 
all that they have, so that none of the Moors in the suburb 
may know thereof; for certes ye cannot keep the city, neither 
abide therein after my death. And see ye that sumpter beasts 
be laden with all that there is in Valencia, so that nothing 
which can profit may be left. And this I leave especially to 
your charge, Gil Diaz. Then saddle ye my horse Bavieca, and 
arm him well ; and ye shall apparel my body full seemlily, 
and place me upon the horse, and fasten and tie me thereon 
so that it cannot fall : and fasten my sword Tizona in my hand. 
And let the Bishop Don Hieronymo go on one side of me, 
and my trusty Gil Diaz on the other, and he shall lead my 
horse. You, Pero Bermudez, shall bear my banner, as you 
were wont to bear it ; and you, Alvar Fanez, my cousin, gather 
your company together, and put the host in order as you are 
wont to do. And go ye forth and fight with King Bucar; 
for be ye certain and doubt not that ye shall win this battle ; 
God hath granted me this. And when ye have won the fight, 
and the Moors are discomfited, ye may spoil the field at pleas- 
ure. Ye will find great riches. What ye are afterward to do 
I will tell ye to-morrow, when I make my testament. 

Early on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and 
Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez, came 
to the Cid. Gil Diaz and Dona Ximena were alway with him ; 
and the Cid began to make his testament. And the first thing 
which he directed, after commending his soul to God, was, that 




The Death of the Cid. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 269 

his body should be buried in the Church of St. Pedro de 
Cardefia, where it now lies ; and he bequeathed unto that 
Monastery many good inheritances, so that that place is at 
this day the richer and more honourable. Then he left to all 
his company and household according to the desert of every 
one. To all the knights who had served him since he went 
out of his own country, he gave great wealth in abundance. 
And to the other knights who had not served him so long, to 
some a thousand marks of silver, to others two, and some 
there were to whom he bequeathed three, according who they 
were. Moreover, to the squires who were hidalgos, to some 
five hundred, and others there were who had a thousand and 
five hundred. And he bade them, when they arrived at St. 
Pedro de Cardefia, give clothing to four thousand poor. And 
he bequeathed to Dona Ximena all that he had in the world 
that she might live honourably for the remainder of her days 
in the Monastery de St. Pedro de Cardefia; and he commanded 
Gil Diaz to remain with her and serve her well all the days 
of her life. And he left it in charge to the Bishop Don 
Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena his wife, and Don Alvar Fanez, 
and Pero Bermudez, and Felez Mufioz, his nephews, that they 
should see all this fulfilled. And he commanded Alvar Fanez 
and Pero Bermudez, when they had conquered King Bucar, to 
proceed forthwith into Castile and fulfil all that he had en- 
joined. This was at the hour of sexts. Then the Cid Ruydiez, 
the Campeador of Bivar, bade the Bishop Don Hieronymo 
give him the body of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and 
he received it with great devotion, on his knees, and weeping 
before them all. Then he sat up in his bed and called upon 
God and St. Peter, and began to pray, saying, Lord Jesus 
Christ, thine is the power and the Kingdom, and thou art 



27O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

above all Kings and all nations, and all Kings are at thy 
command. I beseech thee therefore pardon me my sins, and 
let my soul enter into the light which hath no end. And 
when the Cid Ruydiez had said this, this noble Baron yielded 
up his soul, which was pure and without spot, to God, on that 
Sunday which is called Ouinquagesima, being the twenty and 
ninth of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand and 
ninety and nine, and in the seventy and third year of his life. 
After he had thus made his end, they washed his body twice 
with warm water, and a third time with rose water, and then 
they anointed and embalmed it as he had commanded. And 
then all the honourable men, and all the clergy who were in 
Valencia, assembled and carried it to the Church of St. Mary 
of the Virtues, which is near the Alcazar, and there they kept 
their vigil, and said prayer and performed masses as was meet 
for so honourable a man. 

Three days after the Cid had departed King Bucar came 
into the port of Valencia, and landed with all his power, which 
was so great that there is not a man in the world who could 
give account of the Moors whom he brought. And there came 
with him thirty and six Kings, and one Moorish Queen, who 
was a negress, and she brought with her. two hundred horse- 
women, all negresses like herself, all having their hair shorn save 
a tuft on the top, and this was in token that they came as if 
upon a pilgrimage, and to obtain the remission of their sins; 
and they were all armed in coats of mail, and with Turkish bows. 
King Bucar ordered his tents to be pitched round about Valencia, 
and Abenalfarax who wrote this history in Arabic, saith, that 
there were full fifteen thousand tents ; and he bade that Moorish 
negress with her archers to take their station near the city. And 
on the morrow they began to attack the city, and they fought 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 



271 



against it three days strenuously ; and the Moors received great 
loss, for they came blindly up to the walls and were slain there. 
And the Christians defended themselves right well, and every 
time that they went upon the walls, they sounded trumpets and 
tambours, and made great rejoicing, as the Cid had commanded. 




Abenalfarax. 



This continued for eight days or nine, till the companions of 
the Cid had made ready everything for their departure, as he 
had commanded. And King Bucar and his people thought that 
the Cid dared not come out against them, and they were the 
more encouraged, and began to think of making bastilles and 
engines wherewith to combat the city, for certes they weened 



2 72 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

that the Cid Ruydiez dared not come out against them, seeing 
that he tarried so long. 

All this while the company of the Cid were preparing all 
things to go into Castile, as he had commanded before his death; 
and his trusty Gil Diaz did nothing else but labour at this. And 
the body of the Cid was prepared after this manner : first it 
was embalmed and anointed as the history hath already re- 
counted, and the virtue of the balsam and myrrh was such that 
the flesh remained firm and fair, having its natural colour, and his 
countenance as it was wont to be, and the eyes open, and his 
long beard in order, so that there was not a man who would 
have thought him dead if he had seen him and not known it. 
And on the second day after he had departed, Gil Diaz placed 
the body upon a right noble saddle, and this saddle with the body 
upon it he put upon a frame ; and he dressed the body in a 
gambax of fine sendal, next the skin. And he took two boards 
and fitted them to the body, one to the breast and the other 
to the shoulders ; these were so hollowed out and fitted that 
they met at the sides and under the arms, and the hind one 
came up to the poll, and the other up to the beard ; and these 
boards were fastened into the saddle, so that the body could 
not move. All this was done by the morning of the twelfth 
day ; and all that day the people of the Cid were busied in mak- 
ing ready their arms, and in loading beasts with all that they 
had, so that they left nothing of any price in the whole city 
of Valencia, save only the empty houses. When it was midnight 
they took the body of the Cid, fastened to the saddle as it 
was, and placed it upon his horse Bavieca, and fastened the 
saddle well : and the body sat so upright and well that it seemed 
as if he was alive. And it had on painted hose of black and 
white, so cunningly painted that no man who saw them would 




T/icy went out from Valencia at Midnight. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 275 

have thought but that they were greaves and cuishes, unless he 
had laid his hand upon them ; and they put on it a surcoat of 
green sendal, having his arms blazoned thereon, and a helmet 
of parchment, which was cunningly painted that every one might 
have believed it to be iron ; and his shield was hung round his 
neck, and they placed the sword Tizona in his hand, and they 
raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilly that it was a mar- 
vel to see how upright he held the sword. And the Bishop 
Don Hieronymo went on one side of him, and the trusty Gil 
Diaz on the other, and he led the horse Bavieca, as the Cid 
had commanded him. And when all this had been made ready, 
they went out from Valencia at midnight, through the gate of 
Roseros, which is toward Castile. Pero Bermudez went first 
with the banner of the Cid, and with him five hundred knights 
who guarded it, all well appointed. And after these came all 
the baggage. Then came the body of the Cid with an hundred 
knights, all chosen men, and behind them Dona Ximena with 
all her company, and six hundred knights in the rear. All these 
went out so silently, and with such a measured pace, that it 
seemed as if there were only a score. And by the time that 
they had all gone out it was broad day. 

Now Alvar Fafiez Minaya had set the host_ in order, and 
while the Bishop Don Hieronymo and Gil Diaz led away the 
body of the Cid, and Dona Ximena, and the baggage, he fell 
upon the Moors. First he attacked the tents of that Moorish 
Queen the Negress, who lay nearest to the city ; and this on- 
set was so sudden, that they killed full a hundred and fifty 
Moors before they had time to take arms or go to horse. 
But that Moorish Negress was so skilful in drawing the Turk- 
ish bow, that it was held for a marvel, and it is said that 
they called her in Arabic Nugueymat Turya, which is to say, 



276 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

the Star of the Archers. And she was the first that erOt on 
horseback, and with some fifty that were with her, did some 
hurt to the company of the Cid ; but in fine they slew her, 
and her people fled to the camp. And so great was the up- 
roar and confusion, that few there were who took arms, but 
instead thereof they turned their backs and fled toward the 
sea. And when King Bucar and his Kings saw this, they were 
astonished. And it seemed to them that there came against 
them on the part of the Christians full seventy thousand 
knights, all as white as snow ; and before them a knight of 
great stature upon a white horse with a bloody cross, who 
bore in one hand a white banner, and in the other a sword 
which seemed to be of fire, and he made a great mortality 
among the Moors who were flying. And King Bucar and the 
other Kings were so greatly dismayed that they never checked 
the reins till they had ridden into the sea ; and the company 
of the Cid rode after them, smiting and slaying and giving 
them no respite ; and they smote down so many that it was 
marvellous, for the Moors did not turn their heads to defend 
themselves. And when they came to the sea, so great was the 
press among them to get to the ships, that more than ten 
thousand died in the water. And of the six and thirty Kings, 
twenty and two were slain. And King Bucar and they who 
escaped with him hoisted sails and went their way, and never 
more turned their heads. Then Alvar Fanez and his people 
when they had discomfited the Moors, spoiled the field, and 
the spoil thereof was so great that they could not carry it 
away. And they loaded camels and horses with the noblest 
things which they found, and went after the Bishop Don Hiero- 
nymo and Gil Diaz, who with the body of the Cid, and Dona 
Ximena, and the baggage, had gone on till they were clear of 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 277 

the host, and then waited for those who were gone against the 
Moors. And so great was the spoil of that day, that there 
was no end to it ; and they took up gold, and silver, and 
other precious things as they rode through the camp, so that 
the poorest man among the Christians, horsemen, or on foot, 
became rich with what he won that day. And when they were 
all met together, they took the road toward Castile ; and they 
halted that night in a village which is called Siete Aguas, this is 
to say, the Seven Waters, which is nine leagues from Valencia. 

Abenalfarax, he who wrote this history in Arabic, saith, that 
the day when the company of the Cid went out from Valencia, 
and discomfited King Bucar and the six and thirty Kings who 
were with him, the Moors of Alcudia and of the suburbs thought 
that he went out alive, because they saw him on horseback, 
sword in hand ; but when they saw that he went toward 
Castile, and that none of his company returned into the town, 
they were astonished. And all that day they remained in such 
amaze, that they neither dared go into the tents which King 
Bucar's host had left, nor enter into the town, thinking that the 
Cid did this for some device; and all night they remained in 
the same doubt, so that they dared not go out from the suburbs. 
When it was morning they looked toward the town, and heard 
no noise there; and Abenalfarax then took horse, and taking 
a man with him, went toward the town, and found all the gates 
thereof shut, till he came to that through which the company 
of the Cid had gone forth ; and he went into the city and 
traversed the greater part thereof, and found no man therein, 
and he was greatly amazed. Then he went out and called aloud 
to the Moors of the suburbs, and told them that the city was 
deserted by the Christians ; and they were more amazed than 
before : nevertheless they did not yet dare either to go out to 



2/8 • THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

the camp or to enter into the town, and in this doubt they 
remained till it was midday. And when they saw that no per- 
son appeared on any side, Abenalfarax returned again into the 
town, and there went with him a great company of the best 
Moors ; and they went into the Alcazar, and looked through 
all the halls and chambers, and they found neither man nor 
living thing ; but they saw written upon a wall in Arabic 
characters by Gil Diaz, how the Cid Ruydiez was dead, and 
that they had carried him away in that manner to conquer King 
Bucar, and also to the end that none might oppose their going. 
And when the Moors saw this they rejoiced and were exceeding 
glad, and they opened the gates of the town, and sent to tell 
these tidings to those in the suburbs. And they came with their 
wives and children into the town, each to the house which had 
been his before the Cid won it. And from that day Valencia 
remained in the power of the Moors till it was won by King 
Don Jayme of Arragon, he who is called the Conqueror, which 
was an hundred and seventy years. But though King Don 
Jayme won it, it is alway called Valencia del Cid. On the 
morrow they went into the tents of King Bucar and found there 
many arms: but the tents were deserted, save only that they 
found certain women who had hid themselves, and who told 
them of the defeat of King Bucar. And the dead were so many 
that they could scarcely make way among them. And they 
went on through this great mortality to the port, and there they 
saw no ships, but so many Moors lying dead that tongue of 
man cannot tell their numbers: and they began to gather up 
the spoils of the field, which were tents, and horses, and camels, 
and buffaloes, and flocks, and gold and silver, and garments, and 
store of provisions, out of all number, so that they had where- 
with to suffice the city of Valencia for two years, and to sell to 
their neighbours also: and they were full rich from that time. 




The Cid' s body is carried with all honour, 
upon his horse Bavieca, to the Monas- 
tery of San Pedro de Cardeiia, where 
his funeral is celebrated with great pomp 

— His embalmed body sits for ten years in his ivory chair beside the high altar — 

My Cid does not forget his country after death. 



When the company of the Cid departed from the Siete 
Aguas, they held their way by short journeys to Salvacanete. 
And the Cid went alway upon his horse Bavieca, as they had 
brought him out from Valencia, save only that he wore no 
arms, but was clad in right noble garments ; and all who saw 
him upon the way would have thought that he was alive, if 
they had not heard the truth. And whenever they halted they 
took the body off, fastened to the saddle as it was, and set 
it upon that frame which Gil Diaz had made, and when they 
went forward again, they placed it in like manner upon the 
horse Bavieca. And when they reached Salvacanete, the Bishop 
Don Hieronymo, and Dona Ximena, and Alvar Fafiez, and the 
other honourable men, sent their letters to all the kinsmen 
and friends of the Cid Ruydiez, bidding them come and do 
honour to his funeral ; and they sent letters also to his sons- 
in-law, the Infantes of Arragon and Navarre, and to King 
Don Alfonso. And they moved on "from Salvacanete and 1 came 



2 8o • THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

to Osma, and then Alvar Fafiez asked of Dona Ximena if 
they should not put the body of the Cid into a coffin covered 
with purple and with nails of gold; but she would not, for 
she said that while his countenance remained so fresh and 
comely, and his eyes so fair, his body should never be placed 
in a coffin, and that her children should see the face of their 
father ; and they thought that she said well, so the body was 
left as it was. And at the end of fifteen days the Infante of 
Arragon arrived, with Dona Sol his wife, and they brought 
with them an hundred armed knights, all having their shields 
reversed hanging from the saddle bow, and all in gray cloaks, 
with the hoods rent. And Dona Sol came clad in linsey-wool- 
sey, she and all her women, for they thought that mourning 
was to be made for the Cid. But when they came within 
half a league of Osma, they saw the banner of the Cid com- 
ing on, and all his company full featly apparelled. And when 
they drew nigh they perceived that they were weeping, but 
they made no wailing ; and when they saw him upon his 
horse Bavieca, according as ye have heard, they were greatly 
amazed. But so great was the sorrow of the Infante that he 
and all his company began to lament aloud. And Dona Sol, 
when she beheld her father, took off her tire, and threw it 
upon the ground and began to tear her hair, which was like 
threads of gold. But Dona Ximena held her hand and said, 
Daughter, you do ill, in that you break the command of your 
father, who laid his curse upon all who should make lam- 
entation for him. Then Dona Sol kissed the hand of the 
Cid and of her mother, and put on her tire again, saying, 
Lady mother, I have committed no fault in this, forasmuch 
as I knew not the command of my father. And then they 
turned back to Osma, and great was the multitude whom they 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 28l 

found there assembled from all parts to see the Cid, having 
heard in what manner he was brought, for they held it to be 
a strange thing; and in truth it was, for in no history do we 
find that with the body of a dead man hath there been done 
a thing so noble and strange as this. Then they moved on 
from Osma, and came to Santesteban de Gormaz. And there 
after few days the King of Navarre came with the Queen 
Dona Elvira his wife ; and they brought with them two hun- 
dred knights ; howbeit their shields were not reversed, for they 
had heard that no mourning was to be made for the Cid. And 
when they were within half a league of Santesteban, the com- 
pany of the Cid went out to meet them, as they had the In- 
fante of Arragon ; and they made no other lamentation, save 
that they wept with Dona Elvira ; and when she came up to 
the body of her father she kissed his hand, and the hand of 
Dona Ximena her mother. And greatly did they marvel when 
they saw the body of the Cid Ruydiez how fair it was, for 
he seemed rather alive than dead. And they moved on from 
Santesteban, toward San Pedro de Cardena. Great was the 
concourse of people to see the Cid Ruydiez coming in that 
guise. They came from all the country round about, and when 
they saw him their wonder was the greater, and hardly could 
they be persuaded that he was dead. 

At this time King Don Alfonso abode in Toledo, and when 
the letters came unto him saying how the Cid Campeador was 
departed, and after what manner he had discomfited King Bucar, 
and how they brought him in this goodly manner upon his horse 
Bavieca, he set out from Toledo, taking long journeys till he 
came to San Pedro de Cardena, to do honour to the Cid at 
his funeral. The day when he drew nigh the Infante of Arragon 
and the King of Navarre went out-to meet him, and they took 



262 . THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

the body of the Cid with them on horseback, as far as the 
Monastery of San Christoval de Ybeas, which is a league from 
Cardefia ; and they went, the King of Navarre on one side of 
the body, and the Infante of Arragon on the other. And when 
King Don Alfonso saw so great a company and in such goodly 
array, and the Cid Ruydiez so nobly clad and upon his horse 
Bavieca, he was greatly astonished. Then Alvar Fafiez and the 
other good men kissed his hand in the name of the Cid. And 
the King beheld his countenance, and seeing it so fresh and 
•comely, and his eyes so bright and fair, and so even and open 
that he seemed alive, he marvelled greatly. But when they told 
him that for seven days he had drank of the myrrh and balsam, 
and had neither ate nor drank of aught else, and how he had 
afterward been anointed and embalmed, he did not then hold 
it for so great a wonder, for he had heard that in the land of 
Egypt they were wont to do thus with their Kings. When they 
had all returned to the Monastery they took the Cid from off 
his horse, and set the body upon the frame, as they were wont 
to do, and placed it before the altar. Many were the honours 
which King Don Alfonso did to the Cid in masses and vigils, 
and other holy services, such as are fitting for the body and 
soul of one who is departed. Moreover he did great honour to 
the King of Navarre, and to the Infante of Arragon, ordering 
that all things which were needful should be given to them 
and their companies. 

On the third day after the coming of King Don Alfonso, 
they would have interred the body of the Cid, but when the 
King heard what Dona Ximena had said, that while it was so 
fair and comely it should not be laid in a coffin, he held that 
what she said was good. And he sent for the ivory chair 
which had been carried to the Cortes of Toledo, and gave order 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 283 

that it should be placed on the right of the altar of St. Peter; 
and he laid a cloth of gold upon it, and upon that placed 
a cushion covered with a right noble tartari, and he ordered 
a graven tabernacle to be made over the chair, richly wrought 
with azure and gold, having thereon the blazonry of the Kings 
of Castile and Leon, and the King of Navarre, and the Infante 
of Arragon, and of the Cid Ruydiez the Campeador. And he 
himself, and the King of Navarre and the Infante of Arragon, 
and the Bishop Don Hieronymo, to do honour to the Cid, 
helped to take his body from between the two boards, in which 
it had been fastened at Valencia. And when they had taken 
it out, the body was so firm that it bent not on either side, and 
the flesh so firm and comely, that it seemed as if he were 
yet alive. And the King thought that what they purported to 
do and had thus begun, might full well be effected. And they 
clad the body in a full noble tartari and in cloth of purple, 
which the Soldan of Persia had sent- him, and put him on hose 
of the same, and set him in his ivory chair ; and in his left 
hand they placed his sword Tizona in its scabbard, and the 
strings of his mantle in his right. And in this fashion the 
body of the Cid remained there ten years and more, till it was 
taken thence, as the history will relate anon. And when his gar- 
ments waxed old, other good ones were put on. 

King Don Alfonso, and the sons-in-law of the Cid, King 
Don Ramiro of Navarre, and the Infante Don Sancho of 
Arragon, with all their companies, and all the other honour- 
able men, abode three weeks in St. Pedro de Cardena, doing 
honour to the Cid, And the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and the 
other Bishops who came with King Don Alfonso, said every 
day their masses, and accompanied the body of the Cid there 
where it was placed, and sprinkled holy water upon it, and 



284 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

incensed it, as is the custom to do over a grave. And after 
three weeks they who were there assembled began to break up, 
and depart to their own houses. And of the company of the 
Cid, some went with the King of Navarre, and other some 
with the Infante of Arragon ; but the greater number, and the 
most honourable among them, betook themselves to King Don 
Alfonso, whose natural subjects they were. And Dona Ximena 
and her companions abode in San Pedro de Cardefia, and Gil 
Diaz with her, as the Cid had commanded in his testament. 
And the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fanez Minaya, and 
Pero Bermudez, remained there also till they had fulfilled all 
that the Cid Ruydiez had commanded in his testament to be 
done. 

Gil Diaz did his best endeavour to fulfil all that his 
Lord the Cid Ruydiez had commanded him, and to serve 
Dona Ximena and her companions truly and faithfully ; and 
this he did so well, that she was well pleased with his faith- 
fulness. And Dona Ximena fulfilled all that the Cid had 
commanded her; and every day she had masses performed for 
his soul, and appointed many vigils, and gave great alms for 
the soul of the Cid and of his family. And this was the life 
which she led, doing good wherever it was needful for the 
love of God ; and she was alway by the body of the Cid, save 
only at meal times and at night, for then they would not permit 
her to tarry there, save only when vigils were kept in honour of 
him. Moreover Gil Diaz took great delight in tending the 
horse Bavieca, so that there were few days in which he did not 
lead him to water, and bring him back with his own hand. 
And from the day in which the dead body of the Cid was 
taken off his back, never man was suffered to bestride that 
horse, but he was alway led when they took him to water, 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 285 

and when they brought him back. And Gil Diaz thought it 
fitting that the race of that good horse should be continued, 
and he bought two mares for him, the goodliest that could be 
found, and when they were with foal, he saw that they were 
well taken care of, and they brought forth the one a male 
colt and the other a female ; and from these the race of this 
good horse was kept up in Castile, so that there were after- 
ward many good and precious horses of his race, and perad- 
venture are at this day. And this good horse lived two years 
and a half after the death of his master the Cid, and then he 
died also, having lived, according to the history, full forty years. 
And Gil Diaz buried him before the gate of the Monastery, 
in the public place, on the right hand; and he planted two 
elms upon the grave, the one at his head and the other at his 
feet, and these elms grew and became great trees, and are yet 
to be seen before the gate of the Monastery. And Gil Diaz 
gave order that when he died they should bury him by that 
good horse Bavieca, whom he had loved so well. 

Four years after the Cid had departed that noble lady 
Dona Ximena departed also, she who had been the wife of 
that noble baron the Cid Ruydiez, the Campeador. At that 
time, Don Garcia Tellez was Abbot of the Monastery, a right 
noble monk, and a great hidalgo. And the Abbot and Gil 
Diaz sent for the daughters of the Cid and Dona Ximena to 
come and honour their mother at her funeral, and to inherit 
what she had left. Moreover there came friends and kinsmen 
from all parts. And when they were all assembled they buried 
the body of Doha Ximena at the feet of the ivory chair on 
which the Cid was seated ; and the Bishop of Pamplona said 
mass, and the Abbot Don Garcia Tellez officiated. And they 
tarried there seven days, singing many masses. 



286 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

Now Don Garcia Tellez the Abbot, and the trusty Gil 
Diaz, were wont every year to make a great festival on the 
day of the Cid's departure, and on that anniversary they gave 
food and clothing to the poor, who came from all parts round 
about. And it came to pass when they made the seventh 
anniversary, that a great multitude assembled as they were wont 
to do, and many Moors and Jews came to see the strange 
manner of the Cid's body. And it was the custom of the 
Abbot Don Garcia Tellez, when they made that anniversary, 
to make a right noble sermon to the people: and because the 
multitude which had assembled was so great that the Church 
could not hold them, they went out into the open place before 
the Monastery, and he preached unto them there. And while 
he was preaching there remained a Jew in the Church, who 
stopped before the body of the Cid, looking at him to see 
how nobly he was there seated, having his countenance so fair 
and comely, and his long beard in such goodly order, and his 
sword Tizona in its scabbard in his left hand, and the strings 
of his mantle in right, even in such manner as King Don 
Alfonso had left him, save only that the garments had been 
changed, it being now seven years since the body had remained 
there in that ivory chair. Now there was not a man in the 
Church save this Jew, for all the others were hearing the 
preachment which the Abbot made. And when this Jew per- 
ceived that he was alone, he began to think within himself 
and say, This is the body of that Ruydiez the Cid, whom 
they say no man in the world ever took by the beard while 
he lived. . . I will take him by the beard now, and see 
what he can do to me. And with that he put forth his hand 
to pull the beard of the Cid ; . . but before his hand could 
.each it, God; who would not suffer this thing to be done, 




He knelt on his Knees be/ore the Abbot. 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 289 

sent his spirit into the body, and the Cid let the strings of 
his mantle go from his right hand, and laid hand on his sword 
Tizona, and drew it a full palm's length out of the scabbard. 
And when the Jew saw this, he fell upon his back for great 
fear, and began to cry out so loudly, that all they who were 
without the Church heard him, and the Abbot broke off his 
preachment and went into the Church to see what it might 
be. And when they came they found this Jew lying upon his 
back before the ivory chair, like one dead, for he had ceased 
to cry out, and had swooned away. And then the Abbot Don 
Garcia Tellez looked at the body of the Cid, and saw that 
his right hand was upon the hilt of the sword, and that he 
had drawn it out a full palm's length ; and he was greatly 
amazed. And he called for holy water, and threw it in the 
face of the Jew, and with that the Jew came to himself. 
Then the Abbot asked him what all this had been, and he 
told him the whole truth; and he knelt down upon his knees 
before the Abbot, and besought him of his mercy that he 
would make a Christian of him, because of this great miracle 
which he had seen, and baptize him in the name of Jesus 
Christ, for he would live and die in his faith, holding all other 
to be but error. And the Abbot baptized him in the name 
of the Holy Trinity, and gave him to name Diego Gil. And 
all who were there present were greatly amazed, and they made 
a great outcry and great rejoicings to God. for this miracle, 
and for the power which he had shown through the body of 
the Cid in this manner; for it was plain that what the Jew 
said was verily and indeed true, because the posture of the Cid 
was changed. And from that day forward Diego Gil remained 
in the Monastery as long as he lived, doing service to the 
body of the Cid. 



29O THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

After that day the body of the Cid remained in the same 
posture, for they never took his hand off the sword, nor 
changed his garments more, and thus it remained three years 
longer, till it had been there ten years in all. And the Abbot 
Don Garcia Tellez and Gil Diaz weened that it was no long- 
er fitting for the body to remain in that manner. And three 
Bishops from the neighbouring provinces met there, and with 
many masses and vigils, and great honour they interred the 
body after this manner. They dug a vault before the altar, 
beside the grave of Dona Ximena, and vaulted it over with a 
high arch, and there they placed the body of the Cid seated as 
it was in the ivory chair, and in his garments, and with the 
sword in his hand, and they hung up his shield and his ban- 
ner upon the walls. 

After the body of the noble Cid Campeador had been 
thus honourably interred, Gil Diaz his trusty servant abode still 
in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardefia, doing service to 
the graves of the Cid and Dona Ximena, and making their 
anniversaries, and celebrating masses, and giving great alms to 
the poor both in food and clothing, for the good of their 
souls ; and in this manner he lived while Don Garcia Tellez 
was Abbot, and two others after him, and then he died. And 
his deportment had alway been such in that Monastery, that 
all there were his friends, and lamented greatly at his death 
because he had led so devout and good a life, and served so 
trustily at the graves of his master and mistress. And at the 
time of his death he gave order that they should lay his body 
beside the good horse Bavieca whom he had loved so well, in 
the grave which he had made there for himself while he was 
living. And Diego Gil remained in his place, doing the same 
service which he had done, till he departed also. And the 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 293 

history saith that though Gil Diaz was good, Diego Gil was 
even better. 

When the Miramamolin brought over from Africa against 
King Don Alfonso, the eighth of that name, the mightiest 
power of the misbelievers that had ever been brought against 
Spain since the destruction of the Kings of the Goths, the 
Cid Campeador remembered his country in that great danger. 
For the night before the battle was fought at the Navas de 
Tolosa, in the dead of the night, a mighty sound was heard 
in the whole city of Leon, as if it were the tramp of a great 
army passing through. And it passed on to the royal Monastery 
of St. Isidro, and there was a great knocking at the gate there- 
of, and they called to a priest who was keeping vigils in the 
Church, and told him, that the Captains of the army whom he 
heard were the *Cid Ruydiez, and Count Ferran Gonzalez, and 
that they came there to call up King Don Ferrando the Great, 
who lay buried in that church, that he might go with them 
to deliver Spain. And on the morrow that great battle of the 
Navas de Tolosa was fought, wherein sixty thousand of the 
misbelievers were slain, which was one of the greatest and 
noblest battles ever won over the Moors. 

The body of the Cid remained in the vault wherein it 
had been placed as ye have heard, till the year of the Incar- 
nation 1272, when King Don Alfonso the Wise, for the great 
reverence which he bore the memory of the Cid his forefather, 
ordered a coffin to be made for him, which was hewn out of 
two great stones; and in this the body of the Cid was laid, 
and they placed it on that side where the Epistle is read ; 
and before it in a wooden coffin, they laid the body of Dona 
Ximena. And upon the walls it was thus written. I who lie 
here interred am the Cid Ruydiez, who conquered King Bucar 



294 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

with six and thirty Kings of the Moors ; and of those six 
and thirty, twenty and two died in the field. Before Valencia 
I conquered them, on horseback, after I was dead, being the 
seventy and second battle which I won. I am he who won 
the swords Colada and Tizona. God be praised, Amen. 

Many are the things which belonging to Ruydiez the Cid 
Campeador, which are still preserved with that reverence which 
is due to the memory of such a man. First, there are those 
good swords Colada and Tizona, which the Cid won with his 
own hand. Colada is a sword of full ancient make : it hath 
only a cross for its hilt, and on one side are graven the words 
Si, Si, . . . that is to say, Yea, Yea : and on the other, No, 
No. And this sword is in the Royal Armoury at Madrid. 
That good sword Tizona is in length three quarters and a half, 
some little more, and three full fingers wide by the hilt, lessening 
down to the point ; and in the hollow of the sword, by the 
hilt, is this writing in Roman letters, Ave Maria Gratia 
plena, Dominus, and on the other side, in the same letters, I 
am Tizona, which was made in the era 1040, that is to say, 
in the year 1002. This good sword is an heirloom in the 
family of the Marquisses of Falces. The Infante Don Ramiro, 
who was the Cid's son-in-law, inherited it, and from him it 
descended to them. Moreover the two coffers which were given 
in pledge to the Jews Rachel and Vidas are kept, the one in 
the Church of St. Agueda at Burgos, where it is placed over 
the principal door, in the inside, and the other is in the Monas- 
tery of St. Pedro de Cardena, where it is hung up by two chains 
on the left of the dome; on the right and opposite to this 
coffer, is the banner of the Cid, but the colour thereof cannot 
now be known for length of time and the dampness of the 
Church have clean consumed it. In the middle is his shield 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 295 

hanging against the wall, covered with skin, but now so 
changed that no blazonry or device is to be seen. In the 
Sacristy there are the keys of the coffer, a great round chest 
of satin wood, the setting of the amethyst cup which he used 
at table, and one of the caskets which the Soldan of Persia 
sent with myrrh and balsam; this is of silver, and gilt in the 
inside, and it is in two parts, the lid closing over the other 
part; its fashion is like that of the vessels in which the three 
Kings of the East are represented, bringing their offerings to 
Christ when he was newly born. On the upper part is graven 
the image of our Redeemer holding the world in his hand, 
and on the other the figure of a serpent marvellously con- 
torted, peradventure in token of the victory which Jesus 
achieved over the enemy of the human race. That noble chess- 
board, the men whereof were of gold and silver, was also in 
the Monastery in the days of King Don Alfonso the Wise, 
but it hath long since been lost, no man knoweth how. More- 
over there is in this Sacristy a precious stone of great size, 
black and sparkling ; no lapidary hath yet known its name. 
The Convent have had an infant Jesus graven thereon with 
the emblem of the Passion, that it might be worthily employed. 
It is thought also that the great cross of crystal which is set 
so well and wrought with such great cunning, is made of dif- 
ferent pieces of crystal which belonged to the Cid. But the 
most precious relic of the Cid Ruydiez which is preserved and 
venerated in this Monastery, is the cross which he wore upon 
his breast when he went to battle; it is of plain silver, in four 
equal parts, and each part covered with three plates of gold, 
and in the flat part of each five sockets set with precious 
stones of some size, and with other white ones which are 
smaller; of these little ones, some are still left fastened in with 



296 THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 

filigrane. In the middle of the cross is a raised part, after the 
manner of an artichoke, ending in white and green enamel ; 
and it is said that in the hollow thereof are certain relics, 
with a piece of the holy wood of the true cross. Verily, that 
part of the writing which can still be read implieth this, for 
thus much may at this day be discerned, . . Crucis Salva- 
tor * * Sancti Petri * * Porto. Of the four limbs of this 
cross the upper one is wanting. King Don Alfonso, the last 
of that name, asked for it and had it made into a cross to 
wear himself when he went to battle, because of the faith 
which he had that through it he should obtain the victory : 
of the lower limb little more is left than that to which the 
plates of silver and gold were fastened on. From point to 
point this cross is little more than a quarter. 

There is no doubt that the soul of the blessed Cid resteth 
and reigneth with the blessed in Heaven. And men of all na- 
tions and at all times have come from all parts to see and rev- 
erence his holy body and tomb, being led by the odour of his 
fame, especially knights and soldiers, who when they have fallen 
upon their knees to kiss his tomb, and scraped a little of the 
stone thereof to bear away with them as a relic, and com- 
mended themselves to him, have felt their hearts strengthened, 
and gone away in full trust that they should speed the better 
in all battles into which they should enter from that time 
with a good cause. By reason of this great devotion, and the 
great virtues of my Cid, and the miracles which were wrought 
by him, King Philip II. gave order to his ambassador Don 
Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, to deal with the Court of Rome 
concerning the canonization of this venerable knight Rodrigo 
Diaz. Now Don Diego was a person of great learning, and 
moreover, one of the descendants of the Cid ; and being" greatly 



THE CHRONICLE OF THE CID. 297 

desirous that this thing should be effected, he sent to the 
Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena, and had papers and dep- 
ositions sent from thence, and made a memorial of the virtues 
and miracles of the Campeador, showing cause why this blessed 
knight should be canonized. But before the matter could be 
proceeded in, the loss of Sienna took place, whereupon he 
was fain to leave Rome; and thus this pious design could not 
be brought about. Nevertheless the Cid hath alway been 
regarded with great reverence as an especial servant of God; 
and he is called the blessed Cid, and the Venerable Rodrigo 
Diaz. Certes, his soul resteth and reigneth with the blessed 
in Heaven. Amen. 




agp-U^* dJ- 



299 



4fcAPPGIlDIX*» 



A. 



One cannot read many pages in this Chronicle without 
being impressed with the strong flavor of religion which enters 
into it. The knights call upon the saints, make pilgrimages to 
their shrines, and expect their aid in battles with the greatest 
confidence. Such a state of feeling could not but exist from 
the nature of the case. The Moors were carrying on a relig- 
ious crusade, their one declared object being to extend the re- 
ligion of Mohammed. There is no fervor so great as a religious 
fervor, and the Church found it necessary to inspire, as far as 
she could, a like religious enthusiasm in the Christian warriors. 
The masses were ignorant and credulous — the monks themselves 
were ignorant, for it is said that at this time not one in a thou- 
sand of them could read. The miracles that they arranged, to 
inspire their followers, were so transparent that they would have 
been greeted with derision by all but those who were filled with 
superstitions. 

When Ramiro, after a long day's fight with the Moors, found 
his troops dispirited, he encouraged them by declaring that St. 
James had appeared to him in a dream and had promised to 
be with them in battle the next day in visible form, on a white 



300 APPENDIX. 

steed, and carrying a white banner with a bloody cross. When 
they advanced to the fight the next morning the saint was at 
their head as promised, riding his white horse and bearing his 
banner. So inspired were they by the belief that it was he 
himself in the flesh, that they routed the Moors with terrible 
slaughter. See Note C. for further particulars as to this kind 
of miracle. 

It will be noticed that the Cid, when on his way into banish- 
ment, found it desirable to encourage his followers by recount- 
ing a dream in which Gabriel promises him success (see page 94). 

These two examples, however, are far more clever than the 
average miracle of the day. The monks, who, of course, profited 
by the piety of the credulous, produced them to order in the 
most clumsy fashion. Here is a sample one : 

"Fernando the Great, a.d. 1063, sent to Benabet, King of 
Seville, requesting that he would let him have the body of St. 
Justa to remove to Leon. Benabet said he knew nothing 
about it, he had never heard of St. Justa, but they were very 
welcome to her body if they could find it. Upon this Alvito, 
the Bishop of Leon, said they would pray three days for a reve- 
lation. At the close of the third day Alvito fell asleep at his 
prayers, and there appeared to him in his dream an old man, 
who told him that St. Justa must not be removed. Seville was 
not to be deprived of a treasure reserved for its glory when it 
should again become a Christian city — but they might have his 
body instead. And who was he ? He was St. Isidore. Alvito 
humbly entreated him to be dreamt of twice more, that he 
might be sure this was not merely a dream, and the dead 
bishop gave the desired proof. At his last appearance he struck 
the ground thrice with his crosier, saying, 'You will find me here, 
here, here.' In the morning three holes were seen in the ground 



APPENDIX. 3OI 

and upon digging there they discovered his body in full odour. 
The court and clergy went out from Leon in procession to meet 
the relics ; the King and his three sons bore the body bare- 
footed ; all the monks and clergy of the city were feasted upon 
the occasion, and Fernando and the Queen served them at the 
board." 

B. 

The Church appointed eight periods of daily prayer, for each 
of which a special service was assigned. Prime was performed 
at six in the morning or at daybreak. Next followed Tierce, 
and after that Sext, which was usually recited at noon. Nones 
were commonly said at three in the afternoon. After them came 
Vespers or Even-song, and at nine o'clock Complines. Matins 
were sung after midnight, and between them and Prime came 
Lauds. 

When the dying warrior was assoyled and howselled, we 
are to understand that he had received absolution and had par- 
taken of the holy Eucharist. 



C. 

Of the many saints by whom the Spanish warrior was wont 
to swear, foremost was Santiago (St. James), the patron' saint 
of Spain. It is recorded by the early Spanish writers that after 
the Crucifixion, when the Apostles went forth to preach the 
gospel to all the world, St. James was directed by the Vir- 
gin to build to her honor a church in that part of Spain 
whither he was to go, in the spot where he should convert 
the most souls. At Saragossa he turned eight souls to God. 



302 APPENDIX. 

These eight converts, going out for prayer and meditation 
to the banks of the Ebro, heard at midnight in the air above 
them angels singing the Ave Maria, while the Virgin appeared 
to ' Santiago, saying, " Here is the place where a church is to 
be built in my honor. Here through my Son's virtue shall 
wondrous things be done." 

" All this is of great authority," says the historian. " Who 
but a heretic could doubt that a tradition so uniform and so 
ancient must of necessity be true." 

The miracles of Santiago, according to these same his- 
torians, were truly wonderful. At his martyrdom, when the sword 
of the executioner descended upon his neck his arms were 
raised in prayer. His hands caught the severed head and held 
it from falling, and the saint remained thus lifeless on his knees, 
holding his head, until nightfall, when his disciples came for 
the body. 

By miraculous means the corpse was brought to Spain, 
where it was deposited in a marble chest at Compostella. 
Roman persecutions came, and the body was hidden and for 
some centuries lost. By the piety of Theodomir, Bishop of Iria, 
it was discovered, the Almighty having manifested to him the 
spot where it lay hidden. The King was notified, and in pious 
joy built a great church, called the Church of the Sepulchre of 
Santiago, at Compostella, and granted for its support all the land 
about it in a diameter of three miles. 

Santiago was wont to come to the help of the Chris- 
tians in their battles with the Moors. The following ballad 
translated by Longfellow describes his appearance in this wise 
long years before he fought for the Cid. With him in this 
early encounter was another saint. 



APPENDIX. 303 

And when the Kings were in the field, — their squadrons in array, 
With lance in rest they onward pressed, to mingle in the fray ; 

But soon upon the Christians fell a terror of their foes, — 
These were a numerous army, — a little handful those. 

And while the Christia7i people stood in this uncertainty, 

Upward toward heaven they turned their eyes, and fixed their thoughts on high ; 

And there two persons they beheld all beautiful and bright, 

Even than the pure new-fallen snow their gar?nents were more white. 

They rode upon two horses more wfiite than crystal sheen, 
A?id arms they bore such as before no mortal man had seen .' 
The one he held a crosier, — a po?itifj ' s ?nitre wore, 
The other held a crucifix, — such man ne'er saw before. 

Their faces were angelical, celestial forms had they, 
And downward through the fields of air they urged, their rapid way y 
They looked upon the Moorish host with fierce a?id angry look. 
And in their hands, with dire portent, their naked sabres shook. 

The Christian host beholding this, straightway take heart again, 
They fall upon their bended knees, all resting o?i the plain, 
And each one with his clenched fist to smite his breast begins, 
And promises to God 011 high he will forsake his sins. 

And when the heavenly knights drew near unto the battle ground,. 
They dashed among the Moors and dealt unerriftg blows around : 
Such deadly havoc there they made the foremost ranks along, 
A panic terror spread unto the hindmost of the throng. 

Together with these two good knights, the champions of the sky r 
The Christians rallied and began to smite full sore and high, 
The Moors raised up their voices and by the Koran swore, 
That in their lives such deadly fray they ne'er had seen before* 

Down went the misbelievers,— fast sped the bloody fight. 

Some ghastly and dismembered lay, and some half dead with fright J 

Full sorely they repented that to the field they came, 

For they saw that frotn the battle they should retreat with shame. 

Another thing befell them, — they dreamed not of such woes, — 
The very arrows that the Moors shot from their twanging bows 



304 APPENDIX. 

Turned back against them in their flight and wounded them full sore, 
And every blow they dealt the foe was paid in drops of gore. 

Now he that bore the crosier and the papal crown had on 
Was the glorified Apostle, the brother of St. John ; 
And he that held the crucifix, and wore the monkish hood, 
Was the holy San Milan of Coyollas' neighbourhood. 

St. Isidro, Bishop of Seville, died in 636. He was a great 
and voluminous writer and a man of great learning. He was 
educated by his brother, his predecessor in the bishopric, who, 
fearing that his love for learning might fill him with vanity, 
confined him in a cell in the monastery. 

St. Isidro performed many miracles, of which a sample fol- 
lows : 

" A canon who was exceedingly stupid but of holy life 
could not learn to read. St. Isidro appeared to the worthy 
man in a vision and bade him eat a book which he gave him. 
He did so and thereupon was filled with knowledge." There 
is not a lad in the land who, in contemplating this easy road 
to knowledge, will not regret that the age of miracles is 
past. 

St. Agatha or St. Gadea, in whose church at Burgos the 
Cid administered the oath to Alfonso, was born in Sicily. Two 
■cities dispute the honour of her birth, but as the old chronicler 
piously observes, " they do much better who by copying her 
virtues strive to become her fellow-citizens in heaven." She 
was tortured under Decius a.d. 251. She was visited by St. 
Peter in her cell and miraculously recovered of her wounds, but 
the Consul, not moved at her speedy recovery, tortured her 
again more effectively so that she died. 

Many churches were built in honour of St. Agatha beside 
the one at Burgos, and she is credited with many miracles. 



APPENDIX. 305 

Her veil taken from her tomb has several times averted from 
Catana the torrent of burning lava from Mt. Etna. 

St. Andrew was called by the Greeks Protoclet, or first 
called, as he was the first of His disciples who followed our 
Lord. He preached after the crucifixion in Greece and adjacent 
countries. He was crucified, as some authorities declare, upon a 
tree, but as popular tradition has it upon a cross shaped like 
the letter X, since called St. Andrew's Cross. 

His bones have rested, after the uncomfortable fashion pe- 
culiar to saints, in many places. His body, after several migra- 
tions, is now supposed to repose in the Cathedral at Amalfi. 
His head, which was left behind in the body's last move, was 
presented by Thomas the Despot to Pius II., who in return 
allotted him a monastery as a dwelling, with a sufficient rev- 
enue. 

The cross upon which he was crucified was, we are told, 
brought from Achaia and placed in the Abbey of St. Victor 
near Marseilles. A part of it was carried to Brussels by Philip 
the Good, who in its honour founded the order of the Knights 
of the Golden Fleece, who wore the Cross of St. Andrew as 
the badge of their order. St. Andrew was the especial saint 
of Scotland. 

D. 

The investiture of knighthood was celebrated with cere- 
monies dependent somewhat upon time and place. 

The accolade, or blow with the sword, however, was never 
lacking, and in war this became substantially the only rite 
performed. Its omission in the case of the Cid is probably 
an invention of some enthusiastic chronicler who wished to be- 



306 APPENDIX. 

stow unusual honours on his hero. The candidate, kneeling before 
his prince or whoever was to confer the rank upon him, was 
struck lightly with the sword. Then he was proclaimed a 
knight ; the expression used being varied but simple, as, " In 
the name of God, I proclaim thee Knight," or, " Rise, Sir 
Knight." 

In the eleventh century the candidate for this honour 
passed the night before he took his vows, in a church, in a 
solemn vigil over his arms. He then received the communion. 
His sword was laid upon the altar as a sign that he bound 
himself to the service of religion and to lead a pure life. 
It was blessed by the ecclesiastic in the solemn prayer which 
is prescribed in the Pontificale Romanum. 

" Most holy Lord, Omnipotent Father, Eternal God, who 
alone ordainest and disposest all things; who, to restrain the 
malice of the wicked and to protect justice, hast, by a wise 
arrangement, permitted the use of the sword to men upon 
this earth and willed the institution of the military order for 
the protection of thy people ; O thou, who, by the mouth 
of the thrice blessed John, didst tell the soldiers who came 
to seek him in the desert to oppress no one, but to be con- 
tent with their wages — we humbly implore thy mercy, Lord. 
It is thou who gavedst to thy servant David to overcome 
Goliath, to Judas Maccabeus to triumph over the nations who 
did not worship thee ; in like manner now to this thy ser- 
vant here, who has come to bend his head beneath the mil- 
itary yoke, grant strength and courage for the defence of the 
faith and justice; grant him an increase of faith, hope, and 
charity ; inspire him with thy faith and love ; give humility 
perseverance, obedience and patience ; make his disposition such 
that he may wound no person unjustly, either with this sword 



APPENDIX. 307 

or any other, but that he may use it to defend all that is 
just and all that is right." 

Then the naked sword was handed the candidate, the 
ecclesiastic saying, 

" Receive this blade in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and use it for your own 
defence and that of God's Holy Church, and for the confu- 
sion of the enemies of the cross of Christ and of the Chris- 
tian faith, and, as far as human frailty permits, wound no 
one unjustly with it." 

The knights or ladies present then put on his spurs, his 
sword was buckled about his waist, and the prince or whoever 
was to confer the rank gave him the kiss of peace, and tak- 
ing the sword struck him lightly as a token that this was the 
last blow he was to receive unavenged. He was then pro- 
claimed a knight in the name of God and the saints. 

There were of course many variations in the ceremony at 
different times and under various circumstances. 

E. 

The trial by combat or judicial duels such as that fought 
by Don Diego Ordonez is evidence of the superstition of the 
age. It was based on the belief that the Almighty would defend 
the right. Another outgrowth of the same belief was the trial 
by ordeal, in which an accused person proved his innocence 
of a charge by holding bars of red-hot iron unscathed, or by 
walking for nine feet barefooted and blindfolded over red-hot 
ploughshares, or by plunging his hand into boiling water. 

" The duel took place," says Lacroix, " when a crime pun- 
ishable by death had been committed, and then only when 



308 APPENDIX. 

there were no witnesses to the crime, but merely grave suspi- 
cions against the supposed criminal. All persons less than 
twenty-one or more than sixty years of age, priests, invalids, 
and women, were allowed to be represented by a champion. 

On the day fixed for the combat the two adversaries ap- 
peared in the lists mounted and armed at all points, their 
weapons in their hands, their swords and daggers girded on, 
each in his turn solemnly -swearing upon the cross that he 
alone was in the right and that he carried no charm or talis- 
man. 

The judicial duel never began before noon, and was only 
allowed to last until the stars appeared in the sky. The knight 
who was beaten was dragged off the ground by his feet, the 
fastenings of his cuirass were cut, his armour was thrown 
piece by piece into the arena, and his steed and his weapons di- 
vided between the marshal and the judges. Attainder often fol- 
lowed as a legal result of defeat in a judicial duel and in- 
volved forfeiture of estate and corruption of blood, by which term 
is meant that the rank and titles of the defeated contestant 
passed away from his family. 



Ricoz-omes-ricohombres were peers or barons of the first 
rank. 

As the Kings of Aragon extended their dominions they 
divided the conquered territory among these ricoz-omes and they 
held it under a sort of feudal tenure. Each one must sup- 
port in his barony a certain number of knights — never less 
than four — with their men-at-arms. Once a year he could be 
summoned to the service of the King for two months. He 



APPENDIX. 309 

exercised certain magisterial rights, and his rank could be 
taken from him only by the council of his fellow peers and 
for cause. 

All this was a couple of centuries after the Cid. At his 
time there were probably no such clearly defined rights and 
duties attached to the title. We are constantly to remember 
that a great part of this Chronicle was interpolated or added 
several centuries after the death of its hero, and customs and 
titles of a date much later than his are doubtless incorporated 
in the text. 

G. 

Though the Cid was thus summarily banished, it is not to 
be inferred that the King was an autocrat. Rodrigo here stands 
in the position of a man who has many strong enemies who 
have gained the upper hand. The Counts were very powerful. 
Some of them lived in cities they had wrested from the Moors, 
with a great following of men-at-arms. And though it was 
necessary to keep up this force to repel the Moors should they 
attempt to regain their lost possessions, it made the nobles to 
a certain extent independent of the king. When it suited their 
purpose they went over to the enemy — like the house of Castro 
later on, of whom the historian says that " they were much in 
the habit of revolting to the Moors." When it became to their 
interest to return, their importance easily secured them from 
punishment. 

They did not hesitate to speak their minds boldly on 
occasion, as witness the Cortes who told Alfonso X. that "they 
thought it fitting that the King and his wife should eat at 
the rate of one hundred and fifty maravedis a day and no more, 



3IO APPENDIX. 

and that he should order his attendants to eat more moderately 
than they did." 

H. 

The superstition to which the Cid here gives way is one 
that is not unknown among the ignorant at the present day. 
It belongs to the same school of ideas as that which makes 
the German peasant consider it lucky to meet a flock of sheep, 
but unlucky to meet swine. The Romans were especially under 
the dominion of superstitions of this kind. They considered 
that the will of the Gods was made manifest by the various 
processes of nature, such as thunder and lightning, and especially 
by the flight and notes of birds. They chose the eagle and 
vulture, whose flight was to make known to them the supreme 
will, the crow, raven, and owl, whose voice, and the hen whose 
manner of feeding, was to do the same office. They had their 
college of augurs who consulted the Gods before any public 
undertaking. This official took his station on the Capitoline 
Hill, and with a wand marked out a portion of the heavens. 
The omens were lucky or unlucky according as birds appeared 
in the right or left of these divisions. Virgil speaks of the 
sinistra cornix, the crow on the left hand that betokened evil, 
and the Maories of to-day regard a flight of birds to the right 
of the war sacrifice as an omen of success. 

Chickens prophesied success to the Romans if when fed 
they dropped any of their food. These unhappy birds were 
carried with the army and fed before any engagement. That 
their prognostications were not implicitly believed in by every 
one we may learn from the story of Claudius in the first 
Punic war, who when the sacred chickens, on being consulted, 



APPENDIX. 3II 

declined to feed at all declared that if they would not eat 
they should drink, and ordered them pitched into the sea. 



I. 

A recent visitor to Valencia says, that around it now as 
in the days of the Cid is the most fertile region of Europe. 
" Here lucerne is mown fifteen times in one year, and the rest 
of the crops are in proportion. Peas, in January, were already 
in the pod, and other vegetables in proportion." But as to the 
city itself he adds : " No breath from the heroic days now blows 
upon Valencia, which is a very concentration of dulness, stagna- 
tion, and ugliness; its cathedral is poor, none of the churches are 
fine ; the dusty gardens of Alameda and Glorietta are ill kept and 
rubbishy. The most interesting historical fragment in the town 
was pulled down in 1865. This was the tower Albufat, upon 
which the cross was first hoisted when the Cid took Valencia 
from the Moors, with the famous gate adjoining, the Puerta 
del Cid, by which he entered the town. From hence, in the 
moment of triumph, he sent back a command that the enemy 
should be permitted to bury their dead, and when the Moorish 
chieftain, touched by the unexpected clemency, sent two beau- 
tiful slaves for his acceptance, replied that to him for whom the 
welcome of his own Ximena was waiting, no other charms 
could offer any attractions. Here his first act was to take 
Ximena with her daughters to the top of the tower and bid 
them look down upon the glories of the Huerta, the garden 
of Spain, which his perseverance had at length conquered." 

Hare, " Wanderings in Spain." 



312 APPENDIX. 

J. 

When the Ommiad dynasty which had ruled Mohammedan 
Spain for two hundred and eighty-four years came to an end, 
the Moorish power was broken up among a number of petty 
kings and caliphates who fought with one another for power 
and departed largely from the rigidity of life and belief enjoined 
by their prophet. 

At this time there arose among the wild tribes that lived 
in Northern Africa beyond the Atlas Mountains " a man of 
God," one Abdullah Ibn Yasim, who preached a new crusade 
to the faithful — not alone against the enemies of the faith, but 
against degenerate Moslems. Of the great tribe of Zanaga, 
eighty thousand warriors answered his call. They chose Yusef 
Ibn Tashefin as their leader and called themselves Al-morabith — 
" men devoted to God." Under the stern rule of their com- 
mander the mighty rabble became a well-disciplined and in- 
vincible army. They crossed the Atlas range, and coming to 
the coast founded Morocco. Their numbers were constantly 
swelled by recruits from that inexhaustible breeding-place of 
nations whence they had come and their eyes were bent on 
Spain. At length the Moorish King of Seville, who was waging 
a losing war, summoned them in to his aid. Thus were 
the dreaded Almoravides, as the Christians corrupted their name, 
called into Spain, and under Yusef and his son Abu Bekr the 
Moslem power was once more renewed and the Christians every- 
where driven back. 



Here is the account of the Cid's preparation for the Cortes- 
as translated by Ormsby : 



APPENDIX. 313 

" When the morning came he said to Minaya, ' Let a hun- 
dred of my good men get ready, with vests under the hauberks 
bright as the sun, and over the hauberks ermines and furs, 
the girdles bound tight so that the arms show not, and sweet 
trenchant swords under the mantles. In this wise will I go 
to the court to demand my rights and plead my plea, and, 
if the Infantes of Carrion try treachery, with a hundred such 
I shall have no fear.' He himself put on breeches of fine 
cloth, and bravely wrought shoes, and a linen shirt white as 
the sun, with loops of gold and silver at the wrists, for so he 
would have it. And over that and under the surcoat, a tunic 
embroidered with gold, and next a robe of red fur with border 
of gold which the Campeador always wore; and over his hair 
a coif of rich scarlet worked with gold, for the hair of the 
good Campeador was not cut. Long was the beard he wore 
and he bound it with a cord, so doing because he would fain 
preserve it; and over all he drew a mantle of great price." 



JAN 14 19.7 



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